Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy once again raised the issue of the Cervical Check 221+ group in the Dáil today.
“In public both the Minister for Health and the Taoiseach have given commitments and indeed apologies to these women and their families but behind the scenes these people are fighting an ongoing battle to have these public commitments honoured.”
Social Democrats co-leader Catherine Murphy once again raised the issue of the Cervical Check 221+ group in the Dáil today.
Catherine Murphy put it to Taoiseach Leo Varadkar that the Minister for Health had assured her a few weeks back that the ex-gratia payment agreed would be paid to these women ‘in a couple of weeks’. She pointed out that a couple of weeks had passed yet these women had not received the payment.
Deputy Murphy said that in addition to being left waiting on the ex-gratia payment, these women and their families were also experiencing a degree of panic at the costs involved in having their slides independently assessed, with some estimates of costs running to €2,500 each.
She said some of the women have been told they won’t be able to claim this expense back. In reply, the Taoiseach said he understands the Minister for Health will bring a memo to Cabinet within ‘the next week or two’ regarding the ex-gratia payment.
Speaking on the matter Catherine Murphy said:
“In public both the Minister for Health and the Taoiseach have given commitments and indeed apologies to these women and their families but behind the scenes these people are fighting an ongoing battle to have these public commitments honoured. They deserve better than the way they are currently being treated by official Ireland.”
19th February 2019
ENDS