Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

An amendment of mine was ruled out of order. It concerned the report of the vaccine damage steering group. The report was published by the Department of Health but it recommended that the compensation scheme be administered by the Department of Social Protection. These families have been waiting since the 1960s and early 1970s for some recognition from the State. The parent of one child was not prepared to wait and went to the courts. That young man, whose name is Kenneth Best, received a substantial compensation payment a number of years ago. However, many more are still awaiting some recognition. Will the Minister use her good offices to engage with the Minister for Health on this issue and ensure the recommendations in the report of the vaccine damage steering group are implemented either through a mechanism in her Department or the Department of Health? These children are in their forties and are approaching their early fifties. Their parents are elderly and are very anxious. We need rapid movement on this issue.

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