Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the announcement that Bríd O’Flaherty has been appointed chair of the sodium valproate inquiry. I have worked with the families involved for the past eight years on this matter. I acknowledge the work that the Minister for Health, Deputy Stephen Donnelly, has done on this and the fact that he has kept his commitment. He knows as well as I do - and we agree on much of this - that it is long overdue. In particular, I commend OACS Ireland and Epilepsy Ireland for the work they have done. I also commend all the families for their tenacity and for sticking with it. The Minister will be aware that this is only the beginning of this phase of the journey for truth. We need to find out who knew what, when they knew it and why nobody did anything about it. Hundreds of children across this State have ended up with disabilities because their mothers were prescribed Epilim when they were pregnant. A terrible injustice was done here. I welcome today's announcement and I look forward to the inquiry.

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