Bríd Smith (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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100. To ask the Minister for Health the details of his discussions with the 221+ patient support group in relation to the CervicalCheck Tribunal; the steps he is taking to ensure the concerns of the group are dealt with; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33547/20]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Concerns in respect of the CervicalCheck Tribunal and how CervicalCheck cases would be dealt with were raised with me by the 221+ patient support group at a meeting on 2 September. I responded to the issues raised by the group at those meetings in my letter of 20 October, informing the group of the Tribunal’s establishment day, and in further letters of 27 and 28 October. Further meetings about the Tribunal and CervicalCheck cases were held with the 221+ group on Friday, 23 October 2020 and Monday, 26 October 2020, and I am engaged in ongoing constructive correspondence with the group.

Although the Tribunal was established on 27 October 2020, all further actions with regard to establishing the Tribunal, including the appointment of the members to properly constitute the Tribunal, have been paused as agreed pending the 221+ group’s consideration of my responses to their concerns.

I remain committed to addressing the 221+ group's concerns in respect of the Tribunal. The only practical impact of the establishment of the Tribunal on 27 October 2020 is that the nine-month period for making claims runs from that day, however this can be extended if necessary.

My Department will provide the Deputy with a briefing note setting out the issues raised by the 221+ group and my responses to those issues.