Health Minister Simon Harris has revealed there is no imminent threat of deportation to Eric Zhi Ying Xue, a nine-year-old schoolboy from Bray who was facing deportation to China, even though he was born and has lived all his life in Ireland.

Speaking exclusively to Matt Cooper on The Last Word the Minister said, "I've just got some good news very recently from the Department of Justice, which I've conveyed to Eric's family, that there is no imminent threat of deportation. That's all I ever called for, that's all Eric's family ever asked for, was an opportunity for a humanitarian review of the case to take place."

"The idea that a nine-year-old boy who is as much from Wicklow as I am, as much from Ireland as I am, would be told that he is "going back" to China, a country he had never been to, was simply ludicrous."

The Minister also addressed various issues concerning the health service, including extension of the CervicalCheck scoping inquiry.

"This afternoon I have approved Dr Scally's terms of reference. In relation to the backlog, the number one query coming into the helpline was women wanting a repeat smear test. From our point of view, cost is no barrier here. We will provide whatever level of funding we need to reduce that backlog."

To catch the full chat press the play button on the image on the top of the screen