Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Health the position regarding legislation to provide a no fault vaccine injury compensation scheme as recommended in the Joint Oireachtas Committee Report on Childhood Immunisation dated July 2001; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45282/12]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Health when the ex gratia payment scheme as recommended in the final draft report of the Vaccine Damage Steering Group, June 2009, will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45306/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 301 and 305 together.

The Joint Oireachtas Committee Report on Childhood Immunisation dated July 2001 made over 18 recommendations in relation to the development of vaccination services for children in Ireland. Since that time the majority of the recommendations made in the report have been addressed and implemented. In relation to the recommendation regarding a no fault vaccine damage compensation scheme my Department convened an expert group to examine this issue. The report from this Group was made in June 2009 and is available on my Department's website. This report is under active consideration by my Department. However, this issue is complex and needs to be considered in the wider context of how best to address the long term health and social needs of people who may have experienced adverse outcomes from other health services.