A redress scheme for the victims of Dr Michael Neary has been demanded by TDs today.
The report of the Lourdes Hospital Inquiry published was described as "shocking and disturbing" by Liz McManus, Deputy Leader of the Labour Party and spokeswoman on health.
She continued: "The distress caused to women - and often young women — by the removal of their wombs, without their consent, thus robbing them of the capacity to have further children, is almost unimaginable.
"This report is an unrelenting account of abuse of position and failure of those in appropriate posts of authority to take action to ensure the welfare of patients... the issue of redress for the women who were mutilated in this way must now be an absolute priority for the government."
Sinn Féin Health spokesperson Caoimhghin Ó Caoláin also called the report "a damning indictment not just of one consultant but of a conspiracy involving a number of people who either participated in gross medical malpractice, or turned a blind eye, or took part in the cover-up afterwards."
He said that if ever there was a case for the state compensating patients for medical abuse then this is it. "There must be immediate action to provide a process that will allow the stories of the individual victims to be ventilated and to ensure that they are financially compensated for their shocking ordeals."
Ms McManus also concluded that "there is surely a case for criminal prosecutions." She also called for the early enactment of the "long promised" Medical Practitioners Act and legislative protection for whistleblowers.
John Gormley, Green Party chairman and health spokesman welcomed the apologies issued by both the Tanáiste and the Taoiseach although he added: "Their words of regret will be empty if not followed up by real action."
Mr Gormley pointed out that the victims of Dr Neary have always asked for the setting up of a Redress Board "and so far the government has not conceded to this request."
"It is only when all of the recommendations of the report are acted on and a Redress Board has been set up that the victims in this case will feel someone has listened to them," he said.