Rose Conway Walsh (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

That money could be spent on the health service.

Members did not receive answers to the questions we submitted until this morning, which makes it difficult because to check the accuracy of the answers we are getting. It would be helpful in our engagement and representation of those most impacted on by our questions if we could be provided the answers a couple of days before the committee meets.

On valproate, I thank the HSE representatives for the written answer provided. However, the study mentioned in its letter to the foetal anti-convulsant syndrome, FACS, Forum Ireland, of which the Organisation for Anti-Convulsant Syndrome, OACS, is a stakeholder, is like a rapid assessment report to estimate the numbers of people in Ireland who have been affected.

This is based on the Irish data combined with the international statistics. I am concerned that it will not address any of the historical issues and will just look at the effectiveness of the risk minimisation. This is why it is very important to have a proper independent inquiry into this. There are an awful lot of questions still outstanding. I can see what the Minister is trying to do by looking at the different elements but the fact is that we need to know who knew, and at what time, the impact that valproate would have on pregnant women and on the children they were going to give birth to. In 1975 the then Minister for Health, and the Irish Medical Board, IMB - which is now the Health Products Regulatory Authority, HPRA - licensed the medication. Why were they telling us for years that it was licensed in 1983? There is an awful lot to be cleared up there. I believe that it cannot be cleared up without an inquiry.

This issue is not particular to Ireland, as the Minister is aware, but a lot of the people who have been impacted by this are finding that they have to go to Britain to get more information on it. The Minister will know that a redress scheme was set up in France for this, so the same mistakes were being made in all of these countries. We owe it to these families who are trying to do their best for the children they are bringing up with disabilities. Will the Minister please speak to that?