Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I take this opportunity to encourage anyone who may be a victim of this syndrome and who has not come forward to go directly to the HSE. They need not approach me, another politician or any local group. Such people can go directly to the HSE and ask that they be interviewed in this regard. The Minister of State has mentioned gastroenteritis, which I believe is associated with Campylobacter jejuni, as well as respiratory tract infections, and I suppose that some of the environmental concerns come from that. While nobody knows what is causing it at present, it is important that nothing is ruled out. We all are beginning to find out information on this subject about which none of us really had any knowledge until this matter came to light a few weeks ago. However, to be of help to the Minister of State, my understanding, based on some of the literature I have read, is that the vaccination issue arose back in the 1970s and it may no longer be relevant today. However, much research remains to be done. Certainly, however, I wish to ascertain what, if anything, can be done about this. I am not putting pressure on the HSE as such. It already has agreed to carry out an investigation, which is important, but it should be done as quickly and as comprehensively as possible.