Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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133. To ask the Minister for Health the steps being taken on foot of the Scally report into the CervicalCheck scandal to address the important matters raised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43272/18]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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On 12 September 2018, the Final Report of the Scoping Inquiry into the CervicalCheck Screening Programme, led by Dr Gabriel Scally, was published following a Government decision. Government has accepted all 50 recommendations set out in the Report.

These recommendations address issues identified through Dr Scally's extensive programme of work. I am committed to returning to Government within three months, as recommended by Dr Scally, with a full plan for the implementation of these recommendations. Development of this plan is underway, overseen by the CervicalCheck Steering Committee, which I established in June.

My first priorities for implementation include establishment of a National Screening Committee by early 2019, the establishment of an Independent Patient Safety Council, and the recruitment of a new leadership team for the Screening Service. Funding to implement recommendations of Dr Scally’s inquiry into the CervicalCheck Screening Programme has been allocated in Budget 2019.

Last week, I met with Dr Scally and I have asked him to provide the independent review of the implementation plan recommended in his report which I am pleased to say he has agreed to do. Dr Scally has also undertaken to do some further work in relation to the laboratories.

Dr Scally presented two reports containing his first findings to me in early June. These were published following the Government meeting on Tuesday, the 12th of June. I accepted all six recommendation from these reports and implementation of these is well underway; in his final report, Dr Scally has stated that he is impressed by how my Department is carrying forward these recommendations.