As detailed to the Deputy in response to his earlier parliamentary questions on this matter, I met two representatives of the Irish Vaccine Injury Campaign on 16 April 2002 and the matters raised by them were considered by my Department. A preliminary review of the schemes in place in a number of other countries was undertaken; however, due to the need to address urgent issues including contingency planning for biological threats and, more recently, SARS, it has not been possible to progress the issue further. The matter will now be considered in the context of my Department's 2004 business plan.
With regard to National Lottery funding for the Group, my Department will respond to its application in the near future.
Question No. 1009 answered with Question No. 994.