Varadkar and Martin agree Commission of Investigation into CervicalCheck should be considered
The Taoiseach and the Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin both agree it is time to consider a full Commission of Investigation into the Cervical Check scandal.
It follows confirmation that a report into the current 'scoping inquiry' will be delayed until the end of the summer.
Leo Varadkar has issued a warning to anyone obstructing the work of the inquiry, and authorised a direct line to the Minister if anyone interferes.
But Micheál Martin says it is time to give the team more teeth.
"I think putting Dr Scally and his team on a statutory basis in a format of a Commission of Investigation might be the most effective way to give teeth to ensure that there is no more messing and no more withholding of documentation," said Mr Martin.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar says making it a full Commission should be considered.
"In terms of your suggestion of rolling it into a Commission of Inquiry, I think we would have to give that proper consideration," said Mr Varadkar.
"One of the advantages of having a scoping inquiry is even though it was only set up a few weeks ago, we already have a progress report, we already have an interim report, we already have findings and recommendations related to one of the terms of reference and those recommendations are already in the process of being implemented."
The Taoiseach says anyone obstructing the work of the investigation into CervicalCheck is also obstructing the government.
It is after the head of the scoping inquiry said documents were being provided to him in formats that made the investigation difficult.
Earlier the Fianna Fáil leader called for a full Commission of Investigation to be established.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar says Dr Scally has been given a direct line to the Minister if anyone tries to hold up his inquiries.
"Should it be the case that anyone obstructs the work of Dr Scally, they are also obstructing the government so I want to make it very clear if it isn't clear already to any agency or public body that we expect full co-operation with Dr Scally and his team and we expect nothing less than that," said Mr Varadkar.
"The Minister for Health met Dr Scally in the last couple of days to assure him that if he runs into any further issues that he has a direct line to the minister to deal with them."
