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

Sorry, I am answering the question. A workforce plan is in place. Recruitment for the new laboratory is an ongoing priority for the HSE. It is working with the faculty of pathology to build the required expertise. As already stated, Dr. Cillian De Gascun was recently appointed as interim director of the national cervical screening laboratory. A lot will depend on the pace of recruitment. It is a matter of high-level expertise. Thankfully, new technologies that reduce the capacity for human error have emerged for cervical screening. There is a far more significant and enhanced process now than pertained originally.

That is positive. Ultimately, the new laboratory is designed to become CervicalCheck's main provider of cervical screening laboratory services. The HSE is of the view, however, that a secondary laboratory contractor will remain necessary at all times to ensure resilience in the system. The route to go is to create our own national service in respect of this. That then, combined with the HPV vaccine roll-out, would give us a very robust approach to cervical cancer and a real opportunity to eliminate it or significantly reduce it in this country.

In respect of the legislation, Deputy Shortall will know that down through the years there have been various debates around mandatory reporting in different areas of life, for example, child protection, where many professionals believe it can be counterproductive, or at least that was the argument that was advanced. I have never been of the view that the world collapses if we do certain things. My view is that open disclosure is imperative and can be of benefit to the system. On the legislation, the Government and I are at the mercy of the House. To be fair, we do need to produce the amendments, complete Report Stage and the Bill then needs to go to the Seanad. If there is agreement on the amendments and if the Bill satisfies all parties, then I think we can move it through both Houses in a timely manner. We are committed to doing that. I will ask the Minister to engage with his respective counterparts on the legislation.

I will make a general point, which is that the cervical screening programme has saved thousands of lives. It is very important that we continue to advocate for participation in the programme. We can certainly improve and enhance it, and that is what we are about.

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