Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is with a heavy heart that I stand here to comment on this. I compliment Dr. Scally on doing this work and coming forward with this supplementary report and the scoping inquiry into the CervicalCheck screening programme which was just a fiasco. We now know that the latest Scally report identified that the number of laboratories involved in CervicalCheck was greater than originally believed. Initially it was believed that there were six laboratories which increased to 11 but this supplementary report established that at least 16 laboratories spread across Ireland, England and the USA were used.

The report also shows that requirements for written permission from the HSE needed before outsourcing were not met and that a laboratory used in Salford, UK, was of particular concern. What is so systemically and fundamentally wrong with the HSE, which the Minister presides over, that basic principles of good governance are blatantly ignored? The report has established that there were at least 16 laboratories and that they needed written permission from the HSE. Who in the HSE is going to be held accountable, where, when or how? The lack of accountability and of respect for people's quality of life and health beggars belief.

It also found that the right systems were not in place, or only technically in place. They were not being operated properly or did not have the expertise needed. This would not happen in a roads project - it would not be accepted - never mind talking about women’s health. Women have got life sentences. Women have died. It is unbelievable and it gets worse and worse. The Minister is still in his position, I do not mean anything personal against him but Fianna Fáil continues to vote confidence in him. I cannot believe it. Then they come in and do a double dance, giving out about him. It just does not wash.

Is the HSE going out of its way to make this situation worse than it already is? Has it learnt nothing in terms of transparency and accountability? We know it has not because it gets worse by the hour. We also know that a review is being conducted by the Royal College of Obstetricians in the UK. The review aims to be an independent examination of the screening history and results and to identify if there were failures by the national cervical screening programme to detect underlying abnormal cells that could have led to cancer or to intervene at an earlier stage in the development of the patient's cancer. Where is that review now? Do we have any sense that it will be completed in the timeframe laid out in its terms of reference? How can the Minister have confidence when there is unmitigated disaster after disaster? People have died, such as Vicky Phelan, and there is the Ruth Morrissey case now where after spending so many days in court the Government is now going to appeal the judgment. It beggars belief that the Minister would force that on any family again.

I have no faith whatsoever in a tribunal. We have seen tribunals all the way back to the beef tribunal. There were acres and acres of print and millions upon millions of euro spent on barristers' fees and nothing has come out of it. What will we get out of this tribunal? I do not know, more fat cats getting fatter and more massive expenses for the State with a huge avoidance of any prosecutions of anybody, or any intention to prosecute, and no semblance of fairness or justice for the victims and their families. I have no faith in any tribunal because we have had one bad experience after another with tribunals over the past three decades. When are we going to learn? The Taoiseach brought us to a briefing recently about the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation, IBRC, one. One module has gone years over the deadline and millions of euro beyond what it should have cost. I have no faith in this gravy train. I want honesty, decency and respect for the women and their families.

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