Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Thank you, Minister. I want to fit in another question. Some members of the volunteer support group, SOUND, for people who have developed narcolepsy and cataplexy, which they claim occurred as a result of being given the Pandemrix vaccine some years ago, are following these proceedings. The Minister's Department is quite familiar with the issue, and his predecessors, including the Minister, Deputy Harris, and the former Minister, James Reilly, would have led investigations or inquiries into this vaccine. The case went to the State Claims Agency. The group has a number of asks which the Department of Health and Government might consider. I will articulate some of those. They want, in time. that there would be a full assessment of the needs of each sufferer looking at their educational needs - primary, secondary and third level; the lifelong living supports to provide for what each sufferer endures; and portable supports when sufferers are travelling or working abroad. There is a range of items and I will ask the members of the group to communicate again directly with the Department. To be honest, it is an issue about which I knew very little until I spoke to some people this week who explained how challenging and difficult it is to have a child or teenager suffering from both narcolepsy, where one falls a asleep all the time, and cataplexy, where one’s muscles go in a total state of relaxation, almost a state of paralysis for a while. They want some redress or future for their children and teenagers to which they can look forward. It is probably a bit of a curveball for the Minister to answer that issue today. I will ask the members of the group to communicate with the Minister but I ask that his Department might again engage with them as they have been in contact over the years. They need to bring this issue forward once and for all.