Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 350: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if her attention has been drawn to the need for no fault insurance for children suffering from cerebral palsy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1504/08]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Question 388: To ask the Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 110 of 26 April 2004, if the chairman of the advisory group on no fault compensation for brain damaged infants has reported the conclusions and recommendations in this report; and the actions she or her Department have or will take on the matter. [1717/08]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 350 and 388 together.

My predecessor as Minister for Health and Children established an advisory group in 2001 to examine the feasibility of establishing a no fault scheme for infants who suffered cerebral damage at, or close to, the time of their birth. The group had undertaken a significant amount of work by early 2004 when it ceased to meet due to the dispute with hospital consultants on the introduction of the Clinical Indemnity Scheme. In 2006 I asked the chairman, Dr. Peter McKenna, to reconvene the group with a view to having a report produced. I understand that the group has been meeting on a regular basis and I am hopeful that it will deliver a report to me before the end of the year. I have arranged to meet Dr. McKenna early next month to be briefed on progress to date.