Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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976. To ask the Minister for Health his engagement with a group (details supplied) regarding the CervicalCheck tribunal since 21 October 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7462/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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Since 21 October 2020, I have had a significant level of engagement with the 221+ Patient Representative Group, working with the Group to progress issues they had raised in respect of the CervicalCheck Tribunal and CervicalCheck cases more generally. This engagement included a number of meetings as well as detailed constructive correspondence on the issues raised. Significant progress was made through this engagement; however, it was not possible to resolve all of the issues raised by the group in the way that they wanted them to be addressed.

I will continue to work with my Department to address the concerns the group have raised where possible and while there is no ongoing engagement with the group in respect of the Tribunal, engagement continues through other mechanisms such as the CervicalCheck Steering Committee.

I appointed the nominated members to the CervicalCheck Tribunal with effect from 1 December 2020 enabling the Tribunal to start its work. I am satisfied that the Tribunal remains the most appropriate venue to hear and determine CervicalCheck claims and it has been designed for that purpose. It is, of course, entirely up to eligible women as to whether or not they use it.