A report into the Maternity Unit at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda has been handed over to the Tánaiste and Minister for Health, Mary Harney.
At a meeting in Dublin this afternoon, Judge Maureen Harding Clarke handed over her report into the unit and the activities of disgraced obstetrician Dr Michael Neary.
Dr Neary was struck off the register of medical practitioners for unnecessarily removing the wombs of over ten patients.
It is understood that the report runs to around 300 pages and makes many recommendations to prevent a reoccurrence of such activities. Over 250 people were interviewed by the Judge and her team, including Dr Neary.
The report will now go to Cabinet and the Attorney General's office for discussion. Speaking this afternoon, the Tánaiste told RTÉ News that it may be up to two weeks before it is made public.
As regards the establishment of a Redress Board for the women affected, Ms Harney said she had enormous personal sympathy for them and she acknowledged that those whose files had been 'destroyed' faced particular difficulties.
