Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. The rationale behind the decision by the Minister, Deputy Harris, to offer a free out-of-cycle smear test back in May or June was to respond to the anxiety of many women that their smear tests may have been misread. It was done in good faith and for good reasons. It was never intended to be a permanent offering - it was only ever intended to last for a few months. Those free tests ceased to be available at the end of December last year.

I was made aware of a backlog a few weeks ago. The Minister informed me a few weeks ago-----

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