Jerry Buttimer (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the 15 Members for their contributions to the Order of Business. Quite understandably, ten Members raised the issue of the cervical cancer scandal. Senators Ardagh, Boyhan, Conway-Walsh, Humphreys, Conway, Leyden, Ó Céidigh, Norris, Ó Ríordáin and Davitt spoke about it. I agree that it is time leadership was shown and required by those who, as Senator Davitt rightly said, are responsible and should be held to account. I also agree that it is not tenable that we see an organisation charged with the management of the health service interfering, obfuscating and withholding information from women who are patients in a vulnerable position and a vulnerable state, their families and medical professionals. It is unacceptable. I apologise to Vicky Phelan and all the women affected. All of us in political life and Irish society want to see answers. I commend Senator Ó Céidigh for putting forward a solution because it must be about solutions. I will not get into the political argument engaged in by Senator Ardagh. This is about ensuring that we save lives, that the women get results and that we all get information. It is unacceptable that as a Minister walks into the Dáil to give a speech, he is handed information. The bottom line, and I have said it in this House previously, is that we are accountable at the ballot box, irrespective of ideology. There are officials who are not accountable and they must be held to account in the fullness of time. Cervical cancer screening saves lives.It is important that we send that message out today. This is a woman's health issue and when we speak about it, the women of Ireland should be at the fundamental core of what we say and do. The withholding of information is outrageous. As Senator Norris rightly said, there is a serious breach of trust. We are all angry and sorry but we want to see accountability and people must be held to account. That is the bottom line. The Minister will be in the House tomorrow afternoon. I thank Members for their co-operation in that regard. In my position as Leader of the House and in a personal capacity, my view is that if HIQA cannot provide the mechanism by which to deliver the investigation then, as the Minister alluded to last night, we should have a full, independent investigation whereby we can get answers. Let us be quite clear, the cervical screening test is not a diagnostic test. Cervical cancer rates have decreased from 14 per 100,000 between 2009 and 2011 to ten per 100,000 currently.

It is important that as Members of the House we offer our sympathies and stand in solidarity with Ms Phelan and her family and all the women affected. As Senator Conway-Walsh said, how many more women are worried, vulnerable and unsure in their homes today. They are our wives, sisters, nieces, grand-daughters, friends and work colleagues. That is the fundamental point. I would be happy to have the Minister to come to the House tomorrow in regard to that issue.

I am happy to accept Senator Humphreys's amendment to the Order of Business. I join with him and Senator Gavan in welcoming May Day yesterday. I agree that there should be collective bargaining and a right for the workers in TV3 and Newstalk to be part of a union. It is fundamental in anything we do that we allow workers to be represented and to have a voice at the table. Given that we did not do it on May Day, I welcome the fact that the unemployment rate has fallen below 6%. I know Senator Gavan will join with me in welcoming the fact that the unemployment rate for the month of April is at 5.9%, which means that for the first time since 2008 we are now seeing more people back at work and that the unemployment rate has fallen to below 6%. Is that not a great way to celebrate May Day - with more people at work, more people earning a living and being productive, feeling happy and being in a job?