This morning, Lorraine Walsh appeared on "Morning Ireland" and spoke about the Scally report and her very valid concerns regarding the recommendations on quality assurance, which formed part of his inquiry and which she stated are instrumental in terms of her confidence in any of the possible CervicalCheck outcomes. She referred to the 16 laboratories uncovered by Dr. Scally as compared with the six original laboratories, and made the point that he may have discovered more if he had longer to carry out his inquiry. My question and that of Lorraine Walsh is whether the Taoiseach will insist that the HSE clearly state that it has absolute confidence from a clinical perspective that the results coming from slides that are sent abroad for testing are safe.

I understand from Dr. Scally's report that he offered us the reassurance that the laboratories are up to standard and-----

The HSE has not given such a reassurance.

-----that they are all accredited. He stated that there is no evidence to support the view that there are any concerns about the particular laboratories, but I am sure the HSE should and will want to comment on that.

It has not done so. Will the Taoiseach insist that it confirm that the results obtained when slides are tested abroad are safe?

I am not sure I can insist, but I will certainly ask it to do so.