Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This is not an issue just of today or yesterday. Unlike how it has been dealt with in the past by the Department of Health I have taken a very personal interest in the matter. I have met with FACS Forum Ireland and I heard what they have had to say. I have made three very clear commitments to them, the first of which is how we make sure this does not happen, going forward; appropriate labelling; and implementing the EMA recommendations. The second commitment is how to deal with the children now who, the Deputy rightly said, are living with very difficult and complex conditions, and their parents who are not being adequately supported. This is the purpose of the Children's Hospital Group and the clinical leads sitting down with FACS Forum Ireland and having an understanding of what these kids need and how supports for them can be streamlined. The third commitment, which is the kernel of Deputy Aylward's question, is around what are we going to do about what happened in the past with regard to investigating what happened and seeing if the State did everything appropriate. The Deputy is correct that my counterparts in the UK and France have recently announced processes to do this. I have informed FACS Forum Ireland that I am considering that, in consultation with officials, and I will come back to FACS Forum Ireland within one month with my proposed course of action.

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