Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Vicky Phelan's solicitor has been adamant in his description of the behaviour of the HSE in regard to his client. He has described it as a cover-up. To be honest, I was not 100% sure if that was the right description but I am now. I am now convinced that we are faced with a cover-up by the HSE and for the following reasons. We and the general public were previously led to believe that all smear tests were subjected to a review where a woman later developed cervical cancer having had a clear smear. Some 208 women was the final number put into the public domain. Then last night the Minister, Deputy Harris, came into the Dáil and told us that "a potentially considerable number of cases were not subjected to audit". We are now advised that approximately 1,500 more women, who may have been put at risk because of errors in the reading of their smear tests, are now affected. Another 1,500 women potentially were left in the dark just as Vicky Phelan was.

In the midst of a debacle centred on the withholding of vital information by the HSE - life and death information - we are now told that there was more misinformation and that more women are potentially caught up in this scandal. This is breathtaking, Taoiseach. It is increasing evidence that this controversy is not simply a case of catastrophic dysfunction; it is a case study of deceit of the gravest nature. Simply put, Taoiseach, this is a national scandal. It is a national scandal enabled by a toxic culture within the HSE. Notwithstanding any inquiry, if we are to ensure that this does not happen again there must be accountability and wide-ranging change in the HSE and this needs to start at the top. Notwithstanding the fact that we do not as of yet have not only all of the information but some of the most basic information that one might expect, we know that Tony O'Brien has presided over negligence, concealment and misinformation, with the most serious consequences for women and their families and so he cannot remain on as director general of the HSE. This is the very least that women affected and their families need to see happening.

Let us be clear. This was not a communications mess-up or, as Mr. O'Brien put it, a failure to close a communications loop. This was a deliberate and devastating concealment of vital information to protect the management of the HSE and, ultimately, the State in court. Women had a medical test read incorrectly. This information was known to the HSE yet these women were kept in the dark for years, deliberately. This organisational mindset does not develop by accident; it is the product of toxic leadership. In any other walk of life, the person ultimately responsible for any such scandal would lose his or her job.

The Taoiseach is the boss and the buck stops with him. I put it to the Taoiseach, as I did yesterday, that he must remove Tony O'Brien from his post.

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