Simon Harris says cancer redress ‘will not be fast tracked’

The Government will not fast-track a compensation scheme for hundreds of women affected by the cervical cancer scandal despite 17 women dying.

As he launched an independent statutory investigation to uncover the full facts of the case, Health Minister Simon Harris said that while he was “not ruling out” such a scheme, no move will take place yet.

The HSE yesterday confirmed at least 208 women who have since been diagnosed with cervical cancer were initially told their tests were negative.