James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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445. To ask the Minister for Health if he will consider appointing a patient advocate to the national screening advisory committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50388/19]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Two 'patient and public' voices have been appointed to the National Screening Advisory Committee.

Following an open call for membership during the course of August and September 2019, a four member selection panel comprising two representatives from the Scottish Screening Advisory Committee, a patient advocate and Professor Niall O'Higgins, Chair of the National Screening Advisory Committee (NSAC) reviewed all applications received. A total of 19 members who reflect a wide variety of expertise and experience were selected and recommended to me for appointment.

The members come from a variety of backgrounds bringing many different areas of expertise including medicine, the law, ethics, health economics, journalism, politics, psychology, patient experience and advocacy.

The NSAC held its inaugural meeting on 18 November 2019 and I am totally satisfied that individually and collectively they will play an important role in the continued evolution of population screening programmes in Ireland.