Vicky Phelan's solicitor has been adamant in his description of the behaviour of the HSE in regard to his client. He has described it as a cover-up. To be honest, I was not 100% sure if that was the right description but I am now. I am now convinced that we are faced with a cover-up by the HSE and for the following reasons. We and the general public were previously led to believe that all smear tests were subjected to a review where a woman later developed cervical cancer having had a clear smear. Some 208 women was the final number put into the public domain. Then last night the Minister, Deputy Harris, came into the Dáil and told us that "a potentially considerable number of cases were not subjected to audit". We are now advised that approximately 1,500 more women, who may have been put at risk because of errors in the reading of their smear tests, are now affected. Another 1,500 women potentially were left in the dark just as Vicky Phelan was.

In the midst of a debacle centred on the withholding of vital information by the HSE - life and death information - we are now told that there was more misinformation and that more women are potentially caught up in this scandal. This is breathtaking, Taoiseach. It is increasing evidence that this controversy is not simply a case of catastrophic dysfunction; it is a case study of deceit of the gravest nature. Simply put, Taoiseach, this is a national scandal. It is a national scandal enabled by a toxic culture within the HSE. Notwithstanding any inquiry, if we are to ensure that this does not happen again there must be accountability and wide-ranging change in the HSE and this needs to start at the top. Notwithstanding the fact that we do not as of yet have not only all of the information but some of the most basic information that one might expect, we know that Tony O'Brien has presided over negligence, concealment and misinformation, with the most serious consequences for women and their families and so he cannot remain on as director general of the HSE. This is the very least that women affected and their families need to see happening.

Let us be clear. This was not a communications mess-up or, as Mr. O'Brien put it, a failure to close a communications loop. This was a deliberate and devastating concealment of vital information to protect the management of the HSE and, ultimately, the State in court. Women had a medical test read incorrectly. This information was known to the HSE yet these women were kept in the dark for years, deliberately. This organisational mindset does not develop by accident; it is the product of toxic leadership. In any other walk of life, the person ultimately responsible for any such scandal would lose his or her job.

The Taoiseach is the boss and the buck stops with him. I put it to the Taoiseach, as I did yesterday, that he must remove Tony O'Brien from his post.

Hear, hear.

I remind members that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against persons not in the House. I do not believe that we should be an adjudicating body.

My experience, unfortunately, is that cock ups are more common than conspiracies and incompetence more common than collusion. Nonetheless, we need to restore confidence in cancer screening in Ireland and in CervicalCheck. As a result of this, there will be a statutory inquiry. We are inviting the spokespeople to meet this evening following the committee hearing this afternoon to discuss what form that inquiry will take. The inquiry will be able to establish whether the allegations Deputy McDonald makes are true, as is the purpose of any inquiry. One needs to have an inquiry before one can make findings of fact, in my opinion and, I hope, in the opinion of most people in this House.

The clinical director of CervicalCheck has already stepped down and the director, the official who runs CervicalCheck, is no longer in charge. Damien McCallion has replaced him. This means we already have individual accountability, at least, on two accounts.

Mr. O'Brien's term as director general of the HSE ends in 12 weeks' time and we are in the process of finding a replacement. We have also indicated that we will re-establish a board for the HSE to enhance accountability.

I am aware that this is an enormously difficult issue and that people are very worried about it, but we need to make sure we do not lose sight of a wider truth. Cancer care in Ireland has improved dramatically in recent years. We have better diagnoses, better treatment and better prevention. Screening does work. The incidence of cervical cancer has gone down from 14 per 100,000 in 2011 to ten per 100,000, a very significant reduction. It is about 7% per year of the number of cases of cervical cancer. Because of CervicalCheck, women are going for smear tests and screening and some 50,000 abnormalities have been identified. That is 50,000 women for whom we have been able to prevent cervical cancer or ensure they received earlier treatment and had a better outcome. It is 50,000 women whose lives, potentially, have been saved and whose treatment was instituted earlier because of CervicalCheck. We should not forget that figure. It is 50,000 women who have benefited from the programme. The biggest travesty of all would be if women were to stop going for smear tests. It is important that we get that message out to the general public.