The Health Minister has been strongly criticised over problems relating to delays in smear test results.
The Dáil heard on Wednesday that waiting times for cervical smear tests were at crisis levels.
A number of women are facing repeat tests as a result of the backlog leading to samples expiring.
People Before Profit's Bríd Smith described the situation as a 'debacle'.
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Donald Trump has announced he'll delay his state of the union address until the ongoing US government shutdown ends.
House speaker Nancy Pelosi had previously called on the US President to delay the annual speech until federal agencies re-open - but Trump earlier on Wednesday indicated his intention to go ahead next week.
Pelosi quickly fired back, saying she would not approve the speech going ahead in Congress as usual.
Ultimately, Trump announced on Twitter that he'd wait to deliver the speech in the 'near future'.
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Fianna Fáil and the SDLP will announce plans later today for a new partnership between the two parties.
Details of the plan are to be announced at a joint press conference in Belfast this lunchtime, hosted by Fianna Fáil Leader Micheál Martin and SDLP leader Colum Eastwood.
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Talks resume at the Workplace Relations Commission later, aimed at averting next week's strike by nurses.
The HSE and the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) held five hours of talks yesterday without much apparent progress.
The INMO said preparations for Wednesday's strike action are continuing.
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The Culture Minister Josepha Madigan has expressed disappointment, after pro-life protesters forced the relocation of a talk she's due to give to a Catholic group.
The event, organised by We Are Church, was due to take place at the Mercy International Centre in Dublin next month.
However, the centre cancelled the booking when it received dozens of calls threatening to hold a major protest.
The venue for the meeting - during which Minister Madigan is due to speak about women in ministries in the Catholic church - now been moved to a south Dublin hotel.
