Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Once awareness of an issue like cervical cancer is raised, notwithstanding the problems, demand is going to go up. That was already known, yet it does appear that no work was done to ensure that the capacity existed. It was very easy to see that there was going to be an increase in demand yet it seems no work was done to ensure that the extra capacity was added. Extra capacity was going to be needed. It is not good enough for the Minister to say there is a worldwide shortage of cytology practitioners. Realistically speaking, that is information he could and should have had before he made the promise and commitment.

We agreed that guaranteeing free smear tests for all women was a good idea. However, it is not up to us in opposition to ensure that the conversations take place to make sure the capacity is there. We did agree it was a good idea; it was a good idea. Getting screened is a good idea, getting a smear test is a good idea, having confidence in a smear test is also absolutely imperative. Public confidence in the screening programme has been knocked. I said this yesterday and will continue to say it. Screening saves lives. However, what has happened has further diminished the confidence that women are entitled to have in their screening service. My belief is that this happened for no good reason. The conversation should have happened in respect of capacity. God knows, we talk enough about capacity and the lack thereof and all the rest of it all the time. The Minister must have known, with the Jade Goody effect or whatever name he wants to put on it, that demand was going to increase. However, the conversation does not appear to have taken place in terms of ensuring that capacity was put into the system.

I have spoken to the Minister previously about the outsourcing of the smear tests. I want to find out how many slides have left the State. We know that some went to Honolulu when they were supposed to be going to Texas. Are there any plans or is there any work to repatriate that work and ensure the tests are done here in this State? How can we ensure that the backlog can be dealt with and women can have their smear tests in a timely way? I know we will have a chance for questions and answers later. That is the flavour of the questions I will be asking.

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