Bríd Smith TD asks Minister Harris to explain why he mislead the Dáil regarding ISO accreditation of US labs involved in CervicalCheck scandal
Impact of outsourcing must be fully scrutinised
People Before Profit TD Bríd Smith has called on Health Minister Simon Harris to explain why he mislead the Dáil in answers to parliamentary questions which she submitted on the ISO accreditation of the US labs involved in the CervicalCheck scandal.
On two occasions in May 2018, the Minister stated that “All laboratories contracted by CervicalCheck meet the programmes standards and have ISO accreditation.”
Dr Gabriel Scally’s report shows that this is not the case, that the labs in the US were not even checked for ISO accreditation.
Dr Scally briefed deputies yesterday and confirmed that this was the case. But he said he has confidence in the US labs and their ability to deliver the CervicalCheck programme.
Deputy Smith said: “I am very disappointed that we don’t have full scrutiny on the impact of outsourcing of the CervicalCheck to the US labs and I am calling on the Minister to be much more stringent in the contracts currently being renewed. And in no way should these labs be indemnified against prosecution. Minister Harris has to come clean and explain his answers.”
Brid Smith is again calling for the ultimate repatriation of the service to the public health service in Ireland and to move away from outsourcing and providing the cheapest service.
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