Minister for Health decides to postpone setting up Tribunal due to Covid-19 Pandemic
The Minister for Health yesterday (Monday, 23 March) informed 221+ of his decision to delay the start of the CervicalCheck Tribunal. The statement below was posted last evening on the Tribunal website.
“Given the ongoing and quickly evolving situation in relation to Covid-19 the decision has been made to delay the establishment of the CervicalCheck Tribunal. This decision has been made in response to both the measures which were announced by the Taoiseach on the 12th March and the understanding that the intended claimants may be considered to be at risk if they were to contract the virus.
The situation will be monitored and further updates in relation to the establishment of the Tribunal will be posted on this website. Any update will also be communicated to the relevant groups through the usual channels. As soon as medical advice recommends that it would be safe and prudent to establish the Tribunal all steps necessary to do so will be taken as expeditiously as possible”.
We welcome the recognition of the inherent vulnerability that cervical cancer creates in all that suffer it and the respect shown for that vulnerability in the current circumstances.
We have however flagged to the Department our concern at the possibility that the delay will now cause the statute of limitations to be reached for some of those planning to bring a claim before the Tribunal. The Department has acknowledged this as a concern and has assured us that it is examining various options to address the issue and to ensure that no prospective claimant is disadvantaged by this necessary decision. 221+ will continue to advocate actively on this matter until it is no longer a concern.