Scally report and cervical smear backlog
Deputy Martin sought a debate on the second Scally report and the continuing backlog of women awaiting smear results. The Taoiseach said the Minister for Health would come to the House next week and outlined progress on testing and turnaround times.
Subject to the change, yes. More than 25 Deputies are offering on questions on promised legislation. I call Deputy Micheál Martin.
Comment on this
The second Scally report has been published and should be debated in the House. I ask the Business Committee to consider, and the Government to commit to, a debate on the report and an assessment of the recommendations of the first report, particularly the legislative proposals arising from it. There is still an enormous backlog of women awaiting results. That unacceptable situation was caused by the decision of the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, to award a free smear as a panic response when the crisis erupted. I ask the Taoiseach to indicate when the legislative provisions dealing with the issues of mandatory reporting and full disclosure will be enacted. When will the Bill in respect of the CervicalCheck tribunal be enacted?
Comment on this
I am advised that the Minister, Deputy Harris, will be away on Thursday, but is happy to come to the House next week to discuss the Scally report directly and other matters related to health. We are making progress on the smear test backlog. A contract has been signed with Quest Diagnostics, which is one of the laboratories, to do the work. In the meantime, MedLab, which no longer does smear tests for Ireland, is catching up on its backlog.
In one part of the country, women are now getting results in six or seven weeks, which is a significant improvement; in the other part of the country there is still a significant backlog but it has gone from 80,000-odd down to 60,000-odd and is now finally going in the right direction. I have asked the Attorney General and the Minister for Health to prioritise the tribunal legislation above all other health legislation. We anticipate having the tribunal legislation in the House this session, with the patient safety Bill in the next session, after the recess.