Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 122: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the company to which the Health Service Executive has awarded a contract to carry out smear tests has incurred a €180 million fine in the United States for violation of both criminal and civil laws; her views at a policy level on whether it is appropriate for the HSE to contract with this company; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35033/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I presume the Deputy is referring to a recent newspaper report that Quest Diagnostics has made provision in its accounts for the anticipated costs of settling a number of allegations in the United States. These issues were widely reported in 2007. In June 2008 the National Cancer Screening Service (NCSS) awarded the contract for cytology laboratory testing for the national cervical screening programme to Quest Diagnostics. Quest Diagnostics successfully met all the required criteria set out under the procurement process which was open to local and international laboratories. Quest Diagnostics was previously contracted by the Health Service Executive (HSE) to clear significant backlogs of smear tests in the Irish system.

The NCSS has informed my Department that Quest Diagnostics has not been convicted of fraud or an offence. Quest Diagnostics was involved in Federal Settlements in the United States and had previously made a full disclosure of these issues to the HSE and more recently to the NCSS during the course of its procurement process. The US Federal Authorities have not barred Quest from ongoing participation in Federal or State level reimbursement schemes.

The national cervical screening programme, CervicalCheck, commenced on 1 September. This service is free to all women in Ireland aged between 25 and 60 years of age. Screening will be provided every three years for women aged between 25 and 44 and every five years for women aged between 45 and 60 years of age in line with best international practice. Results will be provided to women within four weeks of having their smear test taken. The NCSS is confident that Quest Diagnostics will provide a service which offers consistency on quality, turnaround of results and on capacity.