Vol. 545 No. 5
35 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress which has been made by the working group on the development of a no-fault compensation system for birth-damaged children; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30904/01]
The "No Fault" Advisory Group has met on four occasions in 2001 and is in the process of finalising its work programme for 2002. In the first phase of its work the group agreed its terms of reference and a broad outline of its work programme. It has recently had a presentation by two of its specialist medical members on the causes of cerebral palsy. At its first meeting in 2002 it will have a presentation by two of the representatives of the legal professions on the present legal framework for handling compensation claims on behalf of brain damaged babies. In February it is hoped to arrange to have a presentation on existing services for children and adults with physical and intellectual disabilities.
The group has made a good start on looking at what is a complex and difficult problem. The chairman of the group, Dr. Peter McKenna, Master of the Rotunda Hospital, hopes to produce at least an interim report by the summer of next year.
