The family of a profoundly disabled toddler injured at birth is calling on the Health Minister to compel health professionals to admit their mistakes.

The High Court has approved an initial payment of €1.9m to Milagros Martin (3), who suffered cerebral palsy at birth.

Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital has apologised to the family for deficits of care relating to her birth.

Milagros Martin was born in December 2011 at our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, and suffered catastrophic injuries at birth.

Her mother Nancy, who is Peruvian, suffered a ruptured uterus after an attempted natural delivery, despite a previous Caesarian section.

In the High Court this morning a statement was read out on behalf of hospital staff, apologising sincerely and unambiguously to the Martin family for the deficits of care relating to her birth.

They said learnings had been adopted by the hospital in the wake of the case.

Judge Kevin Cross approved a €1.9m initial payment, which will be reviewed in three years.

The family's solicitor, David O'Malley, says hospital staff must be compelled to admit medical mistakes to patients.

"Surely the time has now come for the Minister for Health to implement a statutory duty of candour, to ease the burden facing similar families such as the Martin family", he said.

Milagros' father, Ruary, told Newstalk Lunchtime the apology means very little to his family.