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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation

Valproate inquiry

Summary

Deputy Conway-Walsh pressed for an update on the inquiry into valproate prescribing to pregnant women and the harms caused to children. The Tánaiste said the Government commitment still stood and he would ask the Minister to reply.

Last November, I was delighted when the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, announced the establishment of an inquiry into the prescribing of valproate to pregnant women. This was a key point in a long and tortuous journey for mothers and families in their search for the truth about the now widely acknowledged impact of Epilim on their unborn children, including the setting up of the redress scheme in France and Baroness Cumberlege's report, First Do No Harm, in the UK. The inquiry was to uncover the truth of who knew what, when they knew it and why nobody did anything to prevent more than 1,200 children being born in this State with a wide range of disabilities that was completely avoidable. It is now ten months from that announcement and there are still no draft terms of reference. When will this inquiry get under way?

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Leo Varadkar The Tánaiste Fine Gael

I am afraid that I do not have an update on that but the Government commitment stands. I will see the Minister, Deputy Donnelly, later, let him know that Deputy Conway-Walsh raised it, and ask him to reply to her as soon as he can.

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