The Taoiseach has made a formal state apology to those affected by the CervicalCheck scandal.
Speaking to a Dáil gallery packed with women impacted and their families, Leo Varadkar apologised for the lives that were "shattered and destroyed" by the controversy.
A number of the members of the gallery were visibly emotional as the Taoiseach addressed them.
Leo Varadkar apologised for the State failures when it comes to Cervical Check:
"Today we say sorry to those whose lives were shattered, those whose lives were destroyed, and those whose lives could have been different."
The Taoiseach went on to say "We are sorry for:
- failures of clinical governance
- failures of leadership and management
- failure to tell the whole truth and do so in a timely manner
- the humiliation, disrespect and deceit
- the false reassurance
- the attempts to play down the seriousness of this debacle.
We apologise to those who survived and still bear the scars, both physically and mentally. As do their families."
