Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I do not accept the Deputy's last statement. The kernel of this issue has been, and continues to be, investigated and if mistakes have been made we will learn from them, fix them and make sure they are not made in the future. We need a screening system in Ireland that women can trust and believe in. That is why Dr. Scally is, and has been, so committed to this effort and why he continues to want to engage with the Government and healthcare system to ensure we follow through on the recommendations he has made. I suggest that we work with him and I support the Minister in those efforts.

I do not have any information on original tender documents but I am sure there is an explanation for it. There are processes under way, some of which have not been completed, and we should not be drawing conclusions in the absence of that information. We also need to ensure that we have the continuing use of laboratories so that we can keep a screening system in place and functioning into next week and next month so that Irish women get the benefit of an effective CervicalCheck screening process. That is an ongoing discussion and negotiation between the Department of Health and the relevant laboratories. We need to maintain a screening process, we need to make sure that it is credible and we need to make sure that any mistakes that have been made in the past are fully uncovered and people are held to account for their actions so that we can learn lessons and fix it for the future.

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