Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

Since this scandal broke, the dogs in the street have been asking how it is good medical practice to outsource cervical screening to a privatised lab 3,000 miles away in a different time zone. Have we not arrived at the truth with these figures, given it is paying its technicians a fraction of what professionals are paid here? A private, for-profit company like Quest would be known to cut corners. I would like the Taoiseach to comment on its track record and why several Ministers stood over it being re-awarded the contract.

I do not expect us to adjudicate on the particular case because that will have to be done elsewhere. However, such big variations between one lab and another, which are clearly shown by this, should have warranted investigation over the years.

Research has shown that women are not listened to, and we know this because medical studies show women tend to get treatment later and are subjected to more pain before they get treatment. That has been combined with the perfect storm of privatising the screening service in this way and we are paying the price for that now.

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