Michael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Minister of State to correct the record of the House. In his response he said, "In particular, I am aware of a specific group of individuals who claim to have developed narcolepsy as a result of receiving pandemic vaccine during the 2009 influenza pandemic." They do not claim this; it happened to them as a result of the use of the vaccine. Will the Minister of State take the opportunity to correct this? He subsequently said, "I must also acknowledge that there have been adverse outcomes for a very small number of people arising out of vaccination." Whether the Minister of State read his speaking note beforehand or not I do not know, but these statements do not tally. I ask him to correct the record of the House.

I asked a very specific question of the Minister of State.

Is the €1.6 million funding stream available in the HSE 2017 service plan or not? The Minister of State spoke about many things, some of which were good and welcome. I want to know whether that specific sum of money is in the service plan. The Minister of State is unable to answer the question but it could not be clearer. The answer is not on the pages of script supplied to the Minister of State. Perhaps he has the answer in follow-up notes. I hope so. If not, the Minister of State has come to the House unprepared in a way that is insulting. The question is clear. Is the €1.6 million funding available for the development of a narcolepsy centre in St. James's Hospital in the 2017 service plan?

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