The issue of compensation for women whose wombs were removed at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital and whose records are now missing "does not arise at this stage", Minister for Health Mary Harney said yesterday.
Ms Harney said, however, that she would meet the group representing the women affected, Patient Focus, today before making any further comments on their demand for a redress board to be set up.
There were clearly issues for the 44 women whose files were missing and there were also issues in relation to "the role of insurers". Following her meeting with Patient Focus, she would be bringing proposals to Cabinet, Ms Harney said.
The Minister also said she would be inviting the gardaí to read the inquiry report, which has a full section on how patient records were deliberately removed from the hospital.
She also went on to express deep regret about what had happened and to apologise to the women whose wombs had been removed.
"This is a damning report and it is clear from the findings that many lessons need to be learned and changes made to ensure that such events do not happen again in Irish hospitals," she said.
"The findings and recommendations are being examined in detail by my department," she said. There would also be discussions with the National Hospitals Office in relation to secure storage of medical records. Ms Harney said the Medical Practitioners Bill, which she hopes will be published in the autumn, will make continuing professional development and education compulsory for doctors.
In addition she said she was "a strong fan" of self-regulation of the medical profession but there had to be more vigilance and the Medical Council needed more powers.
Meanwhile, Opposition parties called for the introduction of a redress board to compensate the former patients of Dr Michael Neary who had their wombs removed.
Labour and Fine Gael also called for the introduction of "whistleblower" legislation to protect employees who report concerns about the behaviour of colleagues or organisations to the authorities.
Fine Gael's health spokesman Liam Twomey said the report found that a matron who raised concerns about Dr Neary in 1978 was afraid to speak out after her concerns were ignored, which allowed the doctor to continue the practice of Caesarean hysterectomies for a further 20 years.
Labour Party health spokeswoman Liz McManus described the report as "one of the most shocking and disturbing accounts of medical failure and indeed abuse in the history of the State".
The Green Party's health spokesman John Gormley welcomed the apologies issued by the Tánaiste and Taoiseach but said they would be " empty if not followed up by real action".
Sinn Féin health spokesman Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin said any redress scheme should deal with all negligence claims by women treated at the maternity unit.