James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)

Excuse me. I did not interrupt the Deputy. We were dealing with an epidemic. I was not in charge at the time, but nonetheless I believe in fairness, and the Minister of the day was faced with this enormous threat to the wellbeing of the people, and to younger people in particular. Given the genetic make-up of the flu and the fact that it related somewhat to an epidemic that occurred years ago, people over 55 perhaps had some degree of immunity. Younger people were at more serious risk. Vaccine manufacturers go through a range of safety checks, but when they are put to the pin of their collar in relation to producing enough vaccine around the world to protect people from a looming crisis, perhaps not all the research that would usually be done can take place, because some of it is time related. No doubt that is why they sought the undertaking from the Government in relation to indemnity. I will revert to the Deputy in writing on the exact nature of the indemnity, but we have to be fair. It is easy enough to give out, and there is plenty to give out about without giving out about those things, which were not under the Government's control and had to be done in the way they were done.

To return to what I believe is the substantive issue, the Government will endeavour to ensure that all the social, educational and medical supports are there for people who might have suffered as a consequence of the vaccine. However, the Deputy should bear it in mind that the individuals in nearly half of the cases that have been identified, or certainly a large minority, never had the flu jab. They are owed a duty of care, too.

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