Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will repeat for the Tánaiste the words of Emma Mhic Mhathúna from Baile na nGall in County Kerry on the "Six One News" yesterday. The Tánaiste will be aware that Emma was diagnosed with cervical cancer in late 2016. Three years earlier she had been given the all clear following a smear test. Emma was told this week that she is one of the women who has been affected by the CervicalCheck scandal. When asked if people should be held accountable she said "Yes, they have to be. This is not one of those things where an apology, money or the reformation of CervicalCheck or bringing in a new test for HPV earlier on [is enough]”. Her words speak volumes. She is a remarkably courageous woman and I extend our support to her and her family at this unbelievably difficult time in her life. Does the Tánaiste agree with her words that this is about accountability and information?

Yesterday, representatives of the HSE addressed the Oireachtas Committee on Health for five hours. Instead of someone - anyone of them - taking responsibility for this terrible scandal, we saw five hours of passing the buck. The head of the HSE Tony O’Brien said: “as the head of the HSE, I have to recognise that those who cocked-up, to use the Taoiseach's phrase, were in the organisation but I did not personally make that cock-up so I cannot take full responsibility for it”.

That is an absolute disgrace. One can delegate authority, but one cannot delegate responsibility. Either someone is held to account or the usual pattern of unaccountability will continue year after year, scandal after scandal. I put it to the Tánaiste that this simply cannot happen.

Women, some of whom are now cancer patients, or dead or dying, were denied information about their health because of the failings of those responsible in our health service. One week into this scandal and we still do not even know how many women are affected. The buck stops with someone. That person is Tony O’Brien who oversees the HSE. The media this morning has reported that Tony O'Brien has taken a temporary leave of absence from the board to which he was appointed in the United States of America. This does not go far enough. It just reiterates and confirms our view of the inappropriateness of the Minister for Health sanctioning Tony' O'Brien's participation on that board when there was a clear conflict of interest in the first place.

The women of Ireland deserve answers, but they also deserve accountability. That is what the women involved are calling for. This morning, Vicky Phelan said: “Heads absolutely need to roll, in particular Tony O'Brien's, who has shown nothing but arrogance and who is more concerned with defending the indefensible than doing the right thing." She is absolutely right. My party leader, Mary Lou McDonald, put this question to the Taoiseach on Tuesday and again yesterday. Perhaps the Tánaiste will lead where the Taoiseach will not. Will the Tánaiste call for the resignation of Tony O’Brien, or like the Taoiseach, does the Tánaiste express full confidence in Mr. O'Brien?

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