Harney hails Irish lung transplant

The Minister for Health Mary Harney has described the first lung transplant ever to be carried out in Ireland as a huge achievement.

A woman underwent the three-hour operation to replace a left lung at Dublin's Mater Hospital overnight. The woman is now in a stable condition and recovering in the hospital's intensive care unit.

Until now, patients were forced to travel abroad for the life-saving surgery.

Mary Harney has congratulated all those involved and is asking that the patient's privacy be respected.