Patricia Ryan (Kildare South, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is no accident that we are here today discussing an extension of time for anyone making claims to the CervicalCheck tribunal. The families have no confidence in the process and are not engaging with it for good reason. The Government must talk to them and address their concerns.

I pay tribute to the members of the 221+ patient support group, and their families, for their bravery in coming together to support each other. I remember in particular those who have died. As one member of the group said:

The day I found out I had cancer was what I thought was the worst day of my life! I was wrong; the day I found out that I shouldn't have got cancer had my smear been read properly was the worst day of my life!

We must prevent a repeat of scandals like this. We must spare any other family the torture of having to go through anything like this in the future. This must start with the repatriation of CervicalCheck screening services to Ireland.

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