Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The HSE has advised that it has sourced additional capacity - it has been working on doing so for some weeks - in a number of countries and that it is trying to finalise arrangements in order that this capacity can be incorporated into the CervicalCheck programme. This is a capacity issue. We cannot develop increased capacity in Ireland in the short term so we need to source it in other parts of the world. This is what the HSE is endeavouring to do and, for the first time, I have a note which suggests that it has secured capacity and is trying to finalise contractual arrangements in this regard.

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