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Dáil
‹ Questions on Promised Legislation

Publishing CervicalCheck documents

Summary

Deputy Louise O'Reilly and Deputy Pearse Doherty press for publication of all CervicalCheck-related documents and correspondence before any inquiry begins. The Taoiseach says he cannot give a blanket commitment because some material may contain personal information, but he notes the request.

There are commitments in the programme for Government to legislate for a duty of candour as well as to conduct business in a transparent way. In that vein, I ask the Taoiseach to give a commitment to the House that all relevant documentation relating to CervicalCheck will be published on the Department of Health's website in advance of any inquiry, because once an inquiry begins, it may be difficult to get documentation. I refer in this instance to publishing emails, correspondence between the Department of Health and CervicalCheck and between the Department of Health and the HSE, and all other relevant documentation in the interests of the transparency of which the Taoiseach is allegedly so fond.

Comment on this

On the same issue, the Taoiseach may be aware that many people, including Members of this House and members of the media, have tabled freedom of information, FOI, requests in respect of the communication that was taking place between the different agencies of the HSE, in the HSE itself, in the Department and at ministerial level relating to this unfolding scandal. The minute a statutory inquiry is established, all of these FOI requests will be denied. Depending on the type of inquiry that is set up, it may be months if not years before we get to the truth. In the era of transparency and given what was done by the Department of Finance in the past in terms of publishing all of the documentation relating to NAMA on its own website before providing same to a committee of the Assembly, will the Taoiseach ensure that the Department of Health, the HSE and other agencies publish all necessary information, in a redacted format with no personal information, so that the public can have full sight of what went on behind the scenes in this area?

Comment on this
Leo Varadkar The Taoiseach Fine Gael

I cannot make a blanket commitment like that. A lot of the documentation may involve personal information regarding individuals-----

Comment on this

That can be redacted.

Comment on this
Leo Varadkar The Taoiseach Fine Gael

-----but I note the request.

Comment on this