Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I was quite disappointed with Senator Ardagh's contribution because, to be fair to the other members of her party, they have been fair in terms of getting to the truth and finding out what happened. This is a significant and very serious political issue but it is certainly not a political football. I appeal to people not to use it as a political football. I received a telephone call this morning on which I suggest Senator Ardagh and others reflect. It was from a person who was in this House in 2007 and 2008, namely, former Senator Fidelma Healy Eames. She informed me this morning that she raised concerns about the outsourcing of this particular contract to an American firm on the Order of Business in this House in November 2007, in April 2008 and again in September 2008. The Fianna Fáil-Progressive Democrat Government of the time ignored the concerns that Senator Healy Eames put on the record of the House, concerns which had come from people working in the screening programme in Galway, including, I believe, a Professor Corkery. It was flagged at the time that the outsourcing of this service could be an issue and that there were concerns, including concerns from people in the medical world. Those concerns, however, were not taken on board by former Deputy Mary Harney and the Fianna Fáil-led Government.

Sadly, I also have to agree with the sentiments of Senator Boyhan in respect of Mr. O'Brien of the HSE. I try to be fair in all of my deliberations and I listened very carefully to what Mr. Tony O'Brien said on "Today with Sean O'Rourke" as I travelled to Dublin yesterday morning. I simply do not believe him. I absolutely believe in the Minister for Health and the manner in which he is trying to handle what is a national scandal. It is probably the biggest health scandal we have seen since I came into this House. However, I just do not believe Mr. O'Brien and, for the sake of all the women who have been affected, Mr. O'Brien should consider his position.