James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

I have a number of points for the Minister and then a question.

I wholeheartedly welcome the Minister's decision to go ahead with the vaccination programme. She knows my views and everyone else is aware of them, too, in terms of the importance of this. It was never a case of either or, but rather of both together. I am glad she now confirms that she always accepted that because we had a debate here and the eminent Deputy O'Hanlon cast aspersions on articles in the New England Journal of Medicine as regards safety issues around that vaccine. In fact there are not.

Why can the Minister not find it in her heart to recompense those who were responsible, proactive and decided to vaccinate their children against this risk? A gesture towards reimbursing the cost of the vaccine is the minimum that could be done, I suggest. The cost would be incurred anyway and it would be a gesture to the parents of those children who went through financial hardship and paid up to €600.

While I am on my feet the Minister might consider settling with Sanofi Pasteur for the remaining debt that I and my group owe them for the children we vaccinated.

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