Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance) | Oireachtas source

We know many things in advance of an inquiry starting. We know that Clinical Pathology Laboratories, CPL, tried to gag Vicky Phelan but she would not acquiesce. CPL is the sister company of MedLab in Sandyford and we are still using it to screen women's cervical tests. Even if we accept the bona fides of the Minster for Health, Deputy Harris, in regard to not knowing about this issue, there is still a problem because the chief medical officer and the Department knew about it but did not tell him. As I have pointed out, he is at the head of the food chain. He is the fish with the rotting head and must do something about this issue.

The Tánaiste mentioned natural justice. In any industrial relations or investigative circumstance there are suspensions from the time an investigation begins. People are suspended while the investigation takes place. This matter cannot be properly investigated while those in the Department who did not tell the Minister arein situ. It is against natural justice to allow that. If the Minister, the Tánaiste or the Taoiseach do not oversee such suspensions, they will be complicit in this scandal. Heads must roll. I plead with the Minister to discipline those who failed to tell him. If he does not, he should resign. It is not credible for him to stand over such a situation while some young women in hospitals are suspended for posts on Facebook. Why is a Department official not being suspended for failing to tell the Minister?

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