Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has paid tribute to "the many, many hundreds of men" who have shared their experiences of abuse by Micheal Shine as they seek justice.
Shine, who worked as a consultant at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, was found guilty of assaults against nine boys, at two trials in 2017 and 2019, before serving three years in prison.
The Minister was speaking during statements on the scoping inquiry into Shine in response to requests from Dignity4Patients on behalf of victims and survivors.
The minister said that "the abuse of trust and attack on the dignity of patients... by Michael Shine was a terrible betrayal", adding that she has "the deepest sympathy and concern for all of the victims" who have "demonstrated remarkable bravery as they continue their pursuit of justice".
"Reports suggest the total number of those impacted is in the high hundreds, and it ranges across a huge age span."
In March, Lorcan Staines SC started his work on the scoping exercise, which will run up to 16-weeks.
"He has been finalising the broad terms of reference," the minister said.
Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy said he wanted "to reiterate the very clear and very just demand that a full public inquiry be delivered and secured in order to allow the full truth to emerge".
"We need to know at the end of this process, precisely the details of the crimes that Michael Shine committed.
"But we also need to know who knew and at what stage they knew, and how in God's name this was allowed to continue for so long, that so many young lives were destroyed."
