Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for introducing this legislation and getting it through both Houses. It is important and it is crucial that its provisions be available to people who have had to go through the trauma of the past 12 months. Options now exist that did not previously.

Where testing is concerned, we are very reliant on resources from outside the State. We should set out a clear programme so as to ensure that all of this work moves back to Ireland over time. Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland are working hard to get foreign companies to set up operations in Ireland. However, we have a situation here whereby work that could be done in Ireland is being sent abroad and that is leading to the creation of employment in other countries. Regardless of the type of medical lab work involved, we should try to develop the relevant services here rather than sending tests to other countries.

It is important that we recognise those who work in the medical service and want to provide the best possible level of care. That has got lost in the debates of the past 12 months, but a large number of people working in our medical services, be they doctors, nurses or support staff, work day in and day out to do that. They provide the care and the requisite follow-up treatment, but they need resources. A major challenge in recent years has been our very good medical staff moving abroad because they do not find working in Ireland attractive. We must ensure that the challenge is lessened and more people can remain to provide the service required by Irish people.

The numbers participating in the screening programme have increased dramatically in the past 12 months. People have confidence in it, but this Bill is about ensuring they can have absolute confidence that they are getting the correct results and that there are no errors being made in the system.

I thank the Minister for his work on this matter.