Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Tánaiste mentioned, as did I, that none of the deaths has presented as a result of the meningitis B strain, but he must acknowledge that cases of children with meningitis B have been reported to the HSE. Thankfully, there have been no deaths thus far but we want to ensure that remains the case in the future.

The Tánaiste referred to the national immunisation advisory committee, which wrote to the Department in June 2018. It is carrying out a review of the matter but still the Department has not received the recommendations. Meanwhile, there has been an outbreak in which up to 20 cases have been identified, while the National Association of General Practitioners is calling for a catch-up programme to be rolled out. Tens of thousands of parents have signed online petitions, crèches and schools are warning parents and families to consider the issue and parents are sitting at home wondering what they should do. It is a case that Jack has been immunised because Jack is only two years old but Mary has not been because she is four years old. Parents wonder what they should do because they may not have the €450 to protect their children. God forbid anything would happen.

There is a review of the issue under way but the advisory committee has not reported. When does the Tánaiste expect that review to be completed? As a State, can we not involve ourselves in a catch-up programme? Why is the political will not there? Does the Tánaiste dispute the advice of the medical professionals in the National Association of General Practitioners when they say the policy is medical apartheid? Does he not accept this and that the Government is forcing parents to choose which children to protect and which to leave vulnerable?

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