Health Minister James Reilly has appointed a Circuit Court judge to draw up an independent report on compensation for women who were victims of symphysiotomy.

Judge Yvonne Murphy, who drew up the Murphy Report on clerical sex abuse published in 2009 will, among other things, assess the merits of introducing an ex-gratia compensation scheme for the symphysiotomy victims relative to allowing current pending legal action to proceed in the courts.

According to the Department of Health, Judge Murphy is also tasked with:

* Meeting women who have undergone surgical symphysiotomy procedures to assess what, in their opinion, would bring closure for them.

* Assessing, in conjunction with the State Claims Agency (SCA) and other relevant bodies, the relative liabilities of insurers, indemnifiers and/or other parties in relation to legal cases pendingon symphysiotomy or which may arise linked to surgical symphysiotomy procedures.

* Meeting insurers, indemnifiers and/or other parties in relation to such liabilities and to explore and negotiate a  level of funding representing a fair contribution towards a fund which would form part of an ex-gratia scheme to which Government would also contribute in order to establish an ex-gratia scheme and put closure on the issue for the women involved.

*Assessing all relevant reports and information relating to syphysiotomy.

Minister Reilly, in a statement, said the Government was keen to ensure that whatever funds were available were directed towards the women who have suffered – and not towards paying legal costs.

Judge Murphy is to report to the Minister within eight weeks with recommendations for the next steps to be taken.

There are believed to be around 200 survivors of the controversial symphysiotiomy procedure, which was almost unique to Ireland among Western countries in the post-war period and which had been discontinued in all but one hospital by the mid-1960s.

Symphysiotiomy continued at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda until the mid-1980s.

The procedure involved widening the pelvis to ease childbirth through dividing the cartilage of the pubic bone.

The operation, however, caused severe side effects in many women, including life-long pain and incontinence.

The Minister met with symphysiotomy victim support groups yesterday.