Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

The Minister has indicated that some 30 cases of narcolepsy with a direct link to Pandemrix have been identified by the HSE. What assistance does the State intend to provide for these children and their families, given that it is a direct result of the administration of the swine flu vaccine? The Minister said that discretionary medical cards will be provided on a temporary basis, but will he elaborate on that? Will all children in whom narcolepsy presents and where there is a clear link with Pandemrix receive a medical card irrespective of the circumstances of the families concerned? Does he share the concern of parents and the wider community that new cases are still presenting and we do not know the full extent of the problem? With the recent publicity around the launch of the SOUND group, which the Minister mentioned, several new cases have come to light, and that is likely to continue for some time to come.

When the Joint Committee on Health and Children met on 8 September 2009 to address the swine flu issue, I and other members, including the Minister, expressed concern about the indemnity granted to vaccine manufacturers, including GlaxoSmithKline, the maker of Pandemrix. Is the nature of that indemnity such that GlaxoSmithKline will be legally absolved from any accountability for the drug causing narcolepsy in Irish children? That needs to be clarified. Is the State now finding itself in the dock in this connection?

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