Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State will be aware of a case that has come into the public domain in recent days, namely, the tragic case of a woman who developed cancer after she was incorrectly given the all clear by a genetic test at Crumlin hospital. She is calling for a full review of diagnostics at the hospital. She has also asked that a panel of experts in genetic medicine from outside the State be appointed to carry out the review. She has threatened High Court proceedings to seek an injunction against an internal HSE review on this.

The woman was told in 2009 that she did not have the BRCA1 genetic mutation that is linked to breast and ovarian cancer. Her solicitor has said that, tragically, she has developed cancer and is now in a "grave situation". The woman says that the mistaken result denied her the opportunity for intervention and preventative treatment almost a decade ago. Indeed, many people who are correctly identified as having the mutation take preventative measures to avoid developing cancer.

Professor Andrew Green of Crumlin hospital has written to the woman and apologised. That is on the public record. As I am sure the Minister of State knows, Vicky Phelan has said that the situation is eerily similar to her own experience with cervical screening.

Crumlin hospital has declined to comment publicly on the case or to confirm whether there are similar cases, and the Minister, Deputy Harris, has stated that he is prevented legally from commenting. In the absence of such comment, and as the Minister of State will appreciate, there is a great deal of fear and concern, particularly given everything that has happened this year in terms of cancer screening for women.

A report commissioned by the HSE was issued in 2014 by independent experts and made some serious findings. It criticised the standards in the genetics department in Our Lady's Children's Hospital, Crumlin, which was previously known as the national centre for medical genetics. The experts, who were from the University of Manchester, stated that communications among staff were "dysfunctional" and patients did not get timely access to tests. Shockingly, the experts could not find any example of good clinical governance in the genetics department. That is a stark finding for a group of international experts to make. The HSE commissioned the 2014 review after it emerged that hundreds of people at risk of cardiac disease were never informed.

These are serious issues, and now another woman is gravely sick because something was missed. I am not attacking the Minister on this, but he has stated that he cannot comment and Crumlin hospital is not commenting. Worryingly, I understand from communications with the solicitor that the solicitor has tried to get this report but cannot get it. My understanding is that the report is not in the public domain, but I stand to be corrected if it is. I am told that, not only is it not in the public domain, but the HSE, the hospital or whatever relevant authority is refusing to release it. If true, that is quite serious.

Will the Minister of State release the report to the woman and her solicitor? I am told that none of the report's recommendations has been implemented. I am not alleging that, as I do not know it to be true, but it is what I have been told by someone close to the situation. Will the Minister of State release the report immediately? Will he report to the House as a matter of urgency on what progress has been made, if any, in implementing the recommendations of what sounds like a very stark report?

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