Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I also wish to raise the CervicalCheck controversy. It is important we do not lose sight of the importance of cervical cancer screening and its benefits when it all goes well. It is important to stress that cervical cancer screening can find abnormal cells in the cervix before they become cancerous. If cervical cancer is caught at the earliest stage, the chance of survival is more than 85%, according to the experts in this field. Cervical cancer usually has no symptoms, so it is really important that cases are picked up in a screening process. This point cannot be lost in all the debate going on here today.

Looking at "Prime Time" again last night, I found it quite shocking to see the number of women, and families for that matter, who are in the dark. That is the best phrase to describe this: people in the dark who have no knowledge of their current medical status. Regarding the withholding of medical information, it is very important that patients have complete access to their medical records and test results. What we have heard so far about the CervicalCheck programme is nothing short of an outrage and constitutes a serious breach of trust between patients, their doctors and the HSE. It has led to widespread fear and anger. I noted the Taoiseach's comments in the Dáil yesterday when he spoke about being angry. He is rightly angry, but the nation is angry too because there has been a breakdown in trust in the health services. There are women today, as we speak, who are unaware of their medical records, which is an absolute outrage. We must demand accountability for what has happened. Heads must roll. I do not like using that expression, but it is true and it must happen. Someone must bear responsibility for the consequences and the outcome of anything we decide in these Houses.

I think the Minister is coming to this decision so I do not want to pre-empt what he may say later in the Dáil, or here tomorrow, but I am calling for the establishment of a fully independent commission to investigate this case. Nothing less will do. I understand that the Minister has written to HIQA to undertake a statutory investigation into this controversy. It is worth noting that HIQA, after it considers his request, will have to come back to the Minister and explain how best it can take this case on. However, it has been confirmed to me that HIQA has limited powers to demand documents and no power to direct the attendance of witnesses to come before it or, for that matter, to demand or receive sworn evidence. Surely all of this is a handicap to a full, open, transparent and forceful inquiry. Therefore, the Minister should not proceed along these lines. He has a valid reason to change his mind, given the further revelations last night.

It is the task of Government and Government alone to establish all the facts surrounding this case, to restore confidence in cancer screening and to ensure such controversies never happen again. I thank the Leader for engaging with the Minister who, I understand, may come before the House tomorrow. If that is the case, that is great, and I look forward to further debate with the Minister tomorrow.