Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Despite what we are discussing, I urge women to engage with the screening programme and have smear tests. Without a doubt, screening saves lives. We must never lose an opportunity to remind women that, notwithstanding what they are reading in the press, they should engage with the service.

The events of the past few months in what we now call the CervicalCheck scandal form another difficult period in the history of women's health in this state. It has been a difficult time for the health service, as well as for those who work hard within it and try to do a good job. Sometimes, it must feel like they are trying to swim backwards against the tide, as they are working hard, but the system is letting them down.

There were many strands to the events that led to the Scally report. The report covers many of them in great detail. I the opportunity to thank Dr. Scally and his team. I join others in thanking those women who were affected and contributed to the report. Their evidence and testimony were invaluable to this process, as well as to the final report's conclusions.

The report outlines that the women affected wanted to see a screening programme that would deliver a patient-centred service and put the rights of women at its centre. Patient-centred care and the upholding of patients' rights are what we expect from health services. The women came back repeatedly to the issue of how their own medical histories had been withheld from them and that doctors knew information about them but did not tell them. Why was it withheld? Dr. Scally is clear, in that there was a degree of misogyny. I hope doctors will read that point and reflect on their role, as well as on the way in which they speak to women.

I have addressed in the House issues related to women's healthcare. I have spoken to the Minister many times about mesh implants and sodium valproate. We know that there are issues with the delivery of women's healthcare by the health service that must be addressed.

The doctors operated a hands-off policy. The literature pointed out that screening was not 100% effective and they knew that figure. They just did not bother to tell the women.

Dr. Scally has done a good job. As the Minister stated, he has given us a framework. However, the work is not finished, as Dr. Scally acknowledged when we spoke to him. Many more questions remain. If we need a commission of investigation to get to the bottom of them, we should have one. Women are still being dragged through the courts and let down. Information is still being leaked to the media. All of the things we said could not and should not happen are still happening. This has to stop. The only way to stop it is with accountability.

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