Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is fair to say this is far from the perfect circumstances in which to deal with an issue such as this and the gravity relating to it. In fairness, Deputy O'Reilly has stated that where mistakes have been made previously, there is no room for shortcuts. We must ensure we deliver on the promise we owe to Vicky Phelan and to many others who have been failed. We must also ensure that we instil some level of confidence in the necessity of having the CervicalCheck programme and cancer screening in general. Like everybody else, I welcome the Minister having come part of the road by accepting that we need to lay down in the legislation that there is an obligation on the clinician, or the system, at the point of a cancer diagnosis to ensure patients will be told. There should be no doubt whatsoever that it would be a necessity for patients to be told that the option of a Part 5 review is open to them. In fairness, Deputy Cullinane has dealt with the point that we are still not particularly happy regarding the anonymised audits. I understand the point the Minister is making concerning the necessary lessons to be taken on board by the system and by wider systems. We are talking about data analytics that are absolutely necessary.

It is far from impossible, however, that anywhere between 40% and 60% of women who use these services might be quite happy and might want to get the details of results, even regarding the terrible news of a discordant reading. If we are going to take the time, and the necessary time, to ensure we have a fit-for-purpose system, we must look at all the questions which exist. We owe this to the many women who have been failed over many years. We must ensure we deliver a system that is fit for purpose. I welcome that we are somewhat further along the journey now than we were earlier.

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