Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are not not interested in anyone because of their standards but as we all know from Dr. Scally's two reports, it is absolutely true that labs were used that were not properly accredited and the governance structures were questionable. He did not find safety issues, as we all acknowledge, but that does not take away from the fact that there were serious shortcomings in governance dating back many years. The programme today has two arms. There is the Coombe Hospital here in Ireland that carries out roughly 10% of smears and there is now Quest Diagnostics, which does the rest. All of the laboratories being used by Quest Diagnostics have been accredited. I personally met Dr. Scally and asked him eye to eye whether he was satisfied with this and whether they were meeting his standards. He is satisfied. I have also said on the record if not of this House then certainly of the other House, and this is no reflection on Quest Diagnostics, that instinctively I would like over time to be doing more here in this country. The move to HPV testing gives an opportunity to reconsider that. As the Senator will know, I have already committed, and it is in the various implementation reports regarding Dr. Scally, to expand the capacity of the Coombe's laboratory facilities. Even if one pressed go on that today I am advised that it is at least a two to three-year project. I do believe and would like to do more here in our own country. That is the ultimate direction of travel.