Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I want to thank the Minister for coming in and for giving a comprehensive overview of this terrible saga. I want to also acknowledge Ms Vicky Phelan, Mr. Stephen Teap and Ms Lorraine Walsh who, along with so many other people, were so courageous and brave. It is never easy to go out into a public space and to talk about one's own personal life, but also to talk and share that on the national airwaves, and tell one's personal story, in front of one's own children, one's loved ones, knowing that one's own health is at stake. They paid a terrible price and are continuing to do so. I want to thank them, because it is important that we acknowledge and thank them.

I want to thank Dr. Scally, the scoping inquiry and all of the people who supplied information and the personal accounts and the advice to the inquiry. They too are brave and courageous. It took brave people to put their head over the parapet and say, "Enough is enough and we are not accepting what the Government and the Department were saying. We are not going to be dragged through the courts having to fight and fight all the time."

Let us put this into context. These people met block walls for a long time. Only when the media sat up and took an interest and suddenly when these people gave their true story, their testimony to their lives and their experiences, we all took this issue on board. Great thanks are due to the media and to journalism that helped them to tell their story.

The Scally report achieved a remarkable task, under very difficult circumstances, with clear dedication and genuine concern for the women involved. This is clear to anyone who has read the report. There were difficult issues in terms of cervical screening and he has shone a light on a very dark place. We have to be careful, however, about what he said. It was a very measured report and brought a sense of measure to the whole matter. It was interesting, for instance, to note that he is not recommending that we go ahead and have a full commission of inquiry. However, the Taoiseach gave a commitment that we will have a full commission of inquiry, and I want the Minister to return to this.

What Dr. Scally said in his report was profound. He stated:

The current policy and practice in relation to open disclosure is deeply contradictory and unsatisfactory. In essence, there is no compelling requirement on clinicians to disclose. [...] It is left up to their personal and professional judgement.

That is a direct quotation from the Scally report. He goes on to say that there is some reluctance on the part of the Government - there was reluctance on the part of the Government in the past - to embrace the issue of mandatory open disclosure. I do not want to rehearse all of that here in front of the Minister, because I do not believe in laying blame on anyone. We got a glance back but we look forward and need to get on with the job. I take on board what the Minister is saying.

Clearly after what Scally has said, this puts an end to that argument. We have got to embrace without any ambiguity the absolute need for mandatory open disclosure. It is important to acknowledge and to say that there are many dedicated people in the health screening sector. It is right and proper that we support them and that we advocate for good health screening. It makes absolute sense. The Scally report also went on to say this.

I am saying that I would like the Minister to clarify what the Government's intention is and he may need more time to reflect on this. Clearly, we need to talk to the victims. I have spoken to a number of these women. They have not fully made up their minds yet whether they want a full, sworn commission of inquiry. Time is running out for many of them. We have to respect and not rush to any judgment. I can only take the Taoiseach at his word, that he will have a full commission of inquiry, which I believe is important.

The leaking of the report was ultimately disturbing. I took the time to quote and look at the Taoiseach's responses to it. I too want to share his revulsion, disappointment and hurt that he referred to in his own statement when the leak was brought to his attention. I would like some clarification as to whether this has been investigated and, if so, what sanctions are going to happen. I would sack someone that leaked an important report before the people got it. That should be addressed. As to this issue of leaks being investigated, that was no good to the people on the night when Dr. Scally had to go out and talk to people and give them some sort of comfort a day in advance. It was grossly irresponsible, not good enough, and the Taoiseach should continue to investigate how that report was leaked. I would urge him to take appropriate action that is right and consistent with his statement.

I hope the Minister will continue to pursue the 50 recommendations. That is important. We should have regular updates on these 50 recommendations. I want to acknowledge the great thanks that we, the State, owe to these courageous and brave women. I want to acknowledge the work of Dr. Scally and am particularly pleased to hear today from the Minister that Dr. Scally wants to remain involved. That is welcome and should be encouraged.