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Departmental Investigations

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 June 2013

Tuesday, 11 June 2013

Questions (912)

Denis Naughten

Question:

912. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the current status of the records held by the Laffoy commission into vaccine trials; if he will ensure that these records remain intact in order to assist with future compensation claims; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27295/13]

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Written answers

In 2000, the then Chief Medical Officer of the Department of Health was asked to undertake an inquiry into the involvement of residents of certain child care homes in a number of clinical trials of vaccines in the 1960s and 1970s. During the course of his inquiry a limited amount of personal information was received by the Department in relation to participants in two of these trials, one at the Mother and Baby Unit in Cork in 1960/61 and a second in 1973 at the Bird’s Nest and the Cottage Home, both in Dun Laoghaire.

This information was subsequently made available by my Department to the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse (originally known as the Laffoy Commission and later as the Ryan Commission). The Commission put extensive procedures in place to provide information to individuals who suspected that they may have been involved in such trials. Persons who were resident in the above named homes and who wish to ascertain if the Department holds clinical trials vaccination records in respect of them, may do so by contacting my Department. I would emphasise, however, that my Department holds few records relating to persons involved in such trials.

As there is no evidence that any of the persons vaccinated in accordance with the arrangements referred to in the Question were adversely affected, the issue of compensation does not arise.

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