Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
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379. To ask the Minister for Health his views on the implementation of the report of the vaccine damage steering committee of 2009, which recommended a three-tiered structure of ex gratia payments (details supplied); the number of persons who have received such payments to date in 2017; the steps future claimants need to take to apply for such payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22818/17]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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My Department is considering how to implement the Programme for a Partnership Government commitment. This includes the nature of any such scheme, whether it would be on a statutory or non-statutory basis, whether it would apply retrospectively, the arrangements for eligibility, the vaccines that would be included in such a scheme, the criteria for determining an adverse effect, the burden of proof required, the assessment of the level of disability and how this would be conducted, the levels of award, the mechanisms for appealing any decision and how the scheme might interact with the legal process and litigation rights. Regard is being given to the international experience with such schemes and to their potential applicability to Ireland. In the course of its considerations, my Department is engaging with other Government Departments and relevant State agencies. It is not appropriate for me, at this stage in the development of this proposal, to speculate about the detailed design or implementation of any future scheme.