Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The answer to that question is "No".

If there is concern around an entirely anonymised system, a halfway house can be found on that. The Government can give women and patients choice in respect of any future look-backs as to whether their sample or slide would be anonymised. I suggest, and my instinct is, that most people, when we talk about information, clarity, transparency and accountability, would prefer that the system not be anonymised. I am not convinced by the argument, and I have heard it rehearsed, that if the look-back is not anonymised it will collapse the whole screening system. I do not buy that because I remember a time when all the controversy, and the women speaking out and defending their corner, was also cited as a potential danger, menace or jeopardy to the entire screening system. Not alone did that not prove to be the case, as a matter of fact, and the data reflected it, more not less women went for screening. All of us on all sides of the House, and Deputy Tully said it very clearly, want people to avail of the screening services.

I hope the Minister will agree to further amendments to this legislation. I do not think he has got it to a point where we could, hand on heart, say this does the job. I had the opportunity to talk to some members, though not all, of the 221+ group. They share many of the concerns, and more concerns than I have expressed, in respect of this legislation. I appeal to the Minister to open his mind and move to correct the deficiencies in the legislation.

See this speech in context