Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 May 2018
161. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who had an adverse reaction to the swine flu vaccine who have cases before the courts involving the State Claims Agency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21852/18]
View answerI cannot comment on individual cases or matters that are the subject of litigation but I can provide background information on this litigation and clarify matters that are already in the public domain.
As of 9 May 2018, legal proceedings against the Minister, the Health Services Executive and GlaxoSmithKline Biological SA have been initiated by seventy individuals. The plaintiffs allege personal injury in which they claim the development of narcolepsy resulted from the administration of the H1N1 pandemic vaccine. The management of the cases transferred to the State Claims Agency on 15 October 2013 when the Taoiseach signed the National Treasury Management Agency (Delegation of Claims Management Functions) (Amendment) Order 2013.
I have been informed by the Agency that cases before the courts in relation to the management of the discovery is the lead case. It would not be appropriate for a Minister to interfere in the courts case management of these claims which are delegated to the SCA for management.
To date the Health Products Regulatory Authority has received 1,828 reports of suspected adverse reactions in association with Swine Flu vaccines (vaccines include Pandemrix, Celvapan and a small number of reports where the brand was unknown to the reporter).
I am continuing to engage with the Minister for Justice and the Minister for Finance on what further improvements can be made to the legal framework governing the management of medical negligence cases.
