Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy has said I was advised month on month to end the repeat smear tests by officials, I presume, or medical experts working for me or the HSE. I ask her or her party leader to clarify who advised me to do that. I have told her in this House that I worked hand in glove with the officials in my Department, including the Chief Medical Officer, at a very intense time. I could reference some of the calls made by the Deputy's party colleagues who sought free repeat smear tests to be provided, but I will not. They were making such calls for good reason, with members of my party and Members across the House. It was one of the primary queries coming to the helpline. I took the decision, but I did so with bipartisan support across the House. GPs spoke about the importance of being able to provide a repeat smear test without being worried about whether a woman could afford it if she sat in front of them looking for it.

As I indicated to Deputy Kelly in response to his similar question, the clinical advice given to me by the HSE is that the risk is very low, although I do not in any way suggest waiting does not cause worry and stress. On the specifics of HPV testing, there were 4,600 women who would require a retest on a precautionary basis, despite the clinical risk being exceedingly low. My briefing tells me that the vast majority of letters to the women concerned have been issued, but I will get the Deputy a very specific figure.

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