Campaigners Vicky Phelan, Stephen Teap and Lorraine Walsh describe the Irish State apology for the women and families affected by the CervicalCheck controversy as "monumental." The Irish premier Leo Varadkar apologised to the women and families who suffered from a "litany of failures" in the cervical screening scandal. Addressing the Dail, the Taoiseach said: "On behalf of the State, I apologise to the women and their loved ones who suffered from a litany of failures in how cervical screening in our country operated over many years. Mr Varadkar also apolgoised to those who survived and "still bear the scars, both physically and mentally".