Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Taoiseach cannot accept that and then turn on those people and dismiss them. He is following the same line that the Minister, Deputy Harris, did in an interview with Brendan O'Connor during which he simply dismissed all of those people involved in CervicalCheck, their contribution to public health and their records in order to save his own skin. The Government panicked. The decision reeked of incompetence and panic and there were no public health criteria nor any advice from relevant individuals to justify it. Essentially, it was the wrong decision. Sometimes, it is better to admit that up front and be honest with the House when people ask basic questions. Last January, thejournal.ieran a story on this matter and I asked questions on foot of it. They were avoided. Deputy Lisa Chambers and others also asked questions. It has taken until now and a submission being made by a person who made a contribution. I am a balanced individual and I will honestly state that the non-disclosure was wrong, but Dr. Gráinne Flannelly made a significant contribution to building up CervicalCheck.

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