Finian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for her additional comments. I will convey the points she has raised to the Minister for Health because I understand the seriousness and complexity of the issues facing the children and families affected by FACS. I am glad to see there has been some positive engagement between FACS Forum Ireland and other stakeholders, including the HSE, the HPRA, and the Department of Health. There will not be any skirting around the issues raised today.

It seems it is also a European issue, rather than one that affects only Irish women and children. It is good that EMA issued such clear guidelines on the safe use of this medicine. It is also good that our medicines regulator, the HPRA, has been working so diligently to implement the EMA recommendations. I hope the measures taken by the HPRA, the HSE, and healthcare professionals more generally mean every woman prescribed the drug is fully aware of the implications of taking the drug so they can make a properly informed decision about their own healthcare.

I will convey the points raised to the Minister for Health to seeks further details on the issues of children, the independent investigation, the signing off of the funding, and also the Senator's strong point about the French Government, which I was not conscious of. It is an example of a European country responding to it. These are all important points. We are committed to doing our best to support people in the best way possible.