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

That is the issue and I acknowledge the anxiety, concern and worry for tens of thousands of women who are waiting for results of their smear tests. When the programme was working efficiently, people would get a result in four to six weeks whereas it is now taking four to six months. I acknowledge that is a big problem and we are doing all that we can, working with the HSE and CervicalCheck, to reduce the backlog and get back to a turnaround time of four to six weeks and that will be done.

The situation has arisen, as I have pointed out, because of the increase in the number of women attending for smear tests both because of the free test and a general increase in those attending which has continued into this year. The solution to this problem is not a political attack on anyone, nor is it removing the Minister for Health. Removing the Minister for Health will not mean the children's hospital will be built any quicker or cheaper.

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