Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have heard the Deputy make this point a number of times and accept that he makes it from the point of view of wanting to achieve good and stand by the people who have been impacted on. My understanding is that Dr. Scally first made the decision about how best to brief those who had been impacted on, as was appropriate, given that it was an independent process. He took the view, which I share, that the best way was to brief Vicky Phelan, without whom we would not have had the report, and the two patient representatives on the CervicalCheck screening committee, Lorraine Walsh and Stephen Teap. Dr. Scally wrote - it was circulated via email - to all of the women for whom he had contact details or their next of kin, providing them with a view on the report and also a copy of it. The advocacy group which is independent but funded by my Department through the Irish Cancer Society and the Marie Keating Foundation held a meeting in Athlone on Sunday at which those who had been impacted on had an opportunity to discuss the report. I am absolutely open to providing for a further briefing, as I am sure Dr. Scally is, although I cannot speak for him. What I suggest is that I ask the advocacy group which seems to be the best representative forum whether it would like that to happen. If it would, there would be no issue in arranging it.

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