Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Yesterday, the supplementary Scally report issued. I commend Dr. Scally on the work he is doing under very difficult circumstances. A number of sections jump out in the report, not least the chapter relating to the procurement of laboratory services. The report raises a number of serious questions, including why the HSE reduced the weighting for quality assurance and capacity and increased the weighting for costs in the tendering process. That is an important issue. The rationale for reducing the emphasis on quality and capacity in favour of increasing emphasis on cost needs to be explained in full. The report also raises other issues in regard to laboratories subcontracting other laboratories without the knowledge of the HSE, and questions are asked in respect of retrospective accreditation. Does the Taoiseach support a call for time to be made available in the Dáil for statements on this issue so we can get answers to these serious questions?

The Scally report is critical of the lack of payment for the work put in by the relatives of those directly affected by this scandal and who are now involved in transforming the system. From a Government perspective, will consideration be given to this payment in the time ahead?

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