In reading the health section in the programme for Government one might think the Government intends to provide a better health service for all. In its approach to many health issues it has, in fact, been very blasé. On the issue of the cervical screening programme, one of my constituents had her test in mid-July, but she has not yet received the results. It usually takes four weeks for the results to be sent, but four and a half months have gone by without a response, which is totally unacceptable. She used the words "fear", "stress" and "worry" in speaking to me about the matter during a long telephone conversation. Does the Taoiseach or the Minister for Health have words of comfort for this and many other ladies who are in the same position? It really is intolerable and unacceptable.

I take the initial point made by the Deputy as partisan and look forward to debating health policy with him on another occasion. On CervicalCheck, he is correct that there have been capacity issues owing to the fact that many women sought reassurance during what was a very fraught and difficult period in the public health service and sought and obtained an additional smear test. Women who have never used the programme before have also begun to use it, which is one good thing to have emerged from a difficult situation. The HSE is actively engaged with the laboratories to see if additional capacity can be found to ensure the turnaround times will be much more satisfactory.