The Health Minister says the entire country is devastated, shocked and hurt over the Cervical Check controversy.
HSE Director General Tony O’Brien will step down at the end of today as the scandal deepens.
Here in Clare, fear is being expressed that this may only be the start of the fallout.
Health Minister Simon Harris says it’s crucial we know who knew what and when they knew it and says those responsible will be held to account.
It’s now been two weeks since the CervicalCheck controversy first emerged and the scandal is continuing to unfold.
Just hours after refusing to resign, HSE boss Tony O’Brien last night conceded to the pressure, admitting there were clear communication failures when it comes to telling women about the false negatives on their smear tests.
The two-week wait for Mr O’Brien’s resignation has led to criticism of the government’s handling of the situation but Clare Fine Gael TD Pat Breen has defended it.
Independent Ennis Councillor Ann Norton is a member of the HSE’s Regional Health Forum West – she feels Tony O’Brien’s resignation is only the beginning of what’s to come in the fallout of the scandal.
Vicky Phelan’s solicitor says an apology from one of the US labs at the centre of the controversy is too little too late.
In a statement Clinical Pathology Laboratories says what happened to Vicky and her family was tragic and that it deeply regrets the outcome.
But her solicitor Cian O’Carroll has rejected that.
