I understand that the Government approved the appointment of a judge for the independent assessment for the CervicalCheck non-disclosure ex gratia payment last week and that the decision was to be finalised at the Cabinet meeting this week. Did this happen? When will the details be made known to the women in question?

Furthermore, what are the timelines for the assessment and for the tribunal to deal with CervicalCheck claims in the event that women want to opt for this process rather than the court option?

I thank the Deputy for asking that question because it allows me to put on the record that the Government approved yesterday the terms of the CervicalCheck non-disclosure ex gratia scheme, including an independent assessment panel comprising a retired High Court judge, who will act as chair, an independent clinician and a person of good standing. The chair of the independent assessment panel is retired High Court judge Aindrias Ó Caoimh, and the Minister, Deputy Harris, will appoint the other two members of the panel shortly. The scheme will be open to all women in the cohort of 221 identified from the retrospective clinical audit as having been involved in the smear test controversies or to their next of kin. The decision was made yesterday.