Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Where cervical smear testing is necessary in the context of an individual woman's medical examination and clinical needs, it is covered under the general medical services scheme. However, opportunistic cervical smear testing is not currently provided under the scheme for medical card holders. Any necessary follow-up treatment is available to all women, including medical card holders, within the public hospital system.

The Health Board Executive, HeBE, commissioned an international expert in cervical screening to carry out an examination on the feasibility and implications of a national roll-out of a cervical screening programme and her report has been submitted to my Department. My Department is now consulting with relevant professional representative and advocacy groups on the report as an essential input into its preparation of a detailed response to the recommendations. These groups are: the Irish College of General Practitioners, An Bord Altranais, the Academy of Medical Laboratory Science, the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of the RCPI; the faculty of pathology of the RCPI, the women's health council and the Irish Cancer Society.