The Health Minister Simon Harris has announced Mr Justice Aindrias Ó'Caoimh will chair a panel for women affected by the Cervical Check scandal.

He will head up an Independent Assessment Panel for ex-gratia payments for those affected by non-disclosures in relation to the programme.

Mr Justice Ó'Caoimh is a former judge of the High Court, and of the Court of Justice of the European Union.

The scheme is designed to provide an alternative, non-adversarial and person-centred option for women affected by the Cervical Check non-disclosure issue.

Minister Harris confirmed last December that he was to examine the early establishment of a non-statutory scheme to provide ex-gratia payments for the women affected by the non-disclosure of the audit.

The Department of Health has said the terms of the scheme are being finalised.

These will be considered by the Government at a meeting next week.

Minister Harris will then make a further announcement about the scheme.

Main image: Mr Justice Aindrias O'Caoimh at The Four Courts, Dublin in 2003 | Image: Gareth Chaney/RollingNews.ie