Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 July 2022
154. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Health if he will take steps to ensure that the terms of reference for the inquiry into the historical licensing and prescribing of sodium valproate will include the participation of families affected; if he will commit to meeting patients’ groups (details supplied) to discuss their concerns in relation to the terms of reference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37687/22]
View answerWhen I met with the patient groups involved with this issue in late 2020, I supported their call for an inquiry into sodium valproate and committed to making that happen. Senior officials in my Department have engaged closely with patient groups and other stakeholders over the past year, to finalise the terms of reference and set up this inquiry.
This inquiry will be designed around giving a voice to patients and their families while looking at the use of sodium valproate in Ireland since it was first licensed. It was important that enough time and resources were invested in scoping out the work to be done and engaging with patient groups. There were a lot of factors to consider, and I wanted to develop a terms of reference that would deliver on our goals. One important aspect is to create an environment that supports families who want to tell their story during this inquiry, and my officials are working to ensure that supports are in place to facilitate this.
There are lots of different groups involved here, including the manufacturer, prescribers of the drug, and our medicines and pharmacy regulators. As a result, there is a lot of preparatory work involved in laying the groundwork for this inquiry. However, I would like to see the inquiry commencing this year, and my officials will continue to engage with the patient groups in order to make that happen.
