Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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704. To ask the Minister for Health the steps that are being taken to address the failure in leadership and management, the failure to tell the whole truth, the false reassurance and attempts to play down the seriousness of the Cervical Check debacle as highlighted in the Government Cervical Check State apology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57975/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Minister is acutely aware that the issues in CervicalCheck in 2018 led to a loss of trust in our screening services. The National Screening Services, the HSE and the Department of Health are working to rebuild that trust, by working with patients and advocates to improve and develop services across all our screening programmes.

In line with the Programme for Government commitment to fully implement Dr Scally’s recommendations, significant progress has been made. All 170 actions, in the Implementation Plan arising from Dr Scally’s 58 recommendations, are now completed. These actions included work to strengthen governance in the screening services, and to develop a new approach to review and disclosure led by an independent Expert Reference Group which included patient advocates and international experts. The CervicalCheck Steering Committee, which includes the 221+ Group and patient advocates, has provided oversight and assurance on implementation of Dr Scally's recommendations.

The Minister for Health recently asked Dr Scally to conduct a final progress review of implementation of his recommendations and Dr Scally’s final report is expected to be submitted to the Minister shortly.

Ireland has high quality screening services which are improving the health of the population. By continuing to listen to and work with patients, screening services will be continuously improved to be in line with best international standards.

Work is also being progressed by the HSE and Department of Health under the global strategy for the elimination of cervical cancer. Thursday 17 November marked the Global Cervical Cancer Elimination Day of Action.

Every year in Ireland around 300 people get cervical cancer, and 90 women die from it. Through continuing to promote and develop our cervical screening and HPV vaccination programmes, we aim to make this devastating and traumatic disease a rare cancer in our population.