Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has said he is not happy that cervical cancer samples are not being examined in Ireland.
It has emerged that the Coombe hospital has not been processing samples since the hospital was subject to a cyberattack six months ago.
But the hospital has yet to start screening samples again, with thousands of women’s cervical swabs being sent abroad for testing.
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Speaking to reporters on Monday morning, Minister Donnelly said: “No, I’m not happy about it, it’s something we’re looking at.
“We have a very major investment in the national screening laboratory in the Coombe and it’s something that we want to see, we want to see these samples here, to see the expertise built up here in Ireland.
“There is activity in the hospital.
"I know they’ve hired people and they’re looking at various training for some of the consultants involved but critically we need to make sure that the samples are screened in Ireland.
“That’s what the Government has committed to, that’s what needs to happen.”
The Irish Mirror has contacted the HSE for comment.
However, in a statement to the Irish Times, the HSE confirmed the processing of cervical screening samples has remained paused for six months and the HSE did not say when it will restart.
This is despite a €20 million new national cervical screening laboratory being built there.
The Government and the HSE committed to screening all cervical cancer tests in Ireland after a report into the CervicalCheck scandal.
The lab at the Coombe was to be completed by the end of June.
Minister Donnelly said he’s waiting on the HSE to give him an update on the facility.
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