Harney ‘delaying vaccine damage support’

TÁNAISTE and Minister for Health Mary Harney has been accused of foot dragging in providing support for children damaged by State vaccination programmes.

Last summer Ms Harney said the department planned to be in a position to recommend the most suitable model for an Irish compensation scheme towards the end of the year. No such decision has been made yet.

Fine Gael’s Denis Naughton said the Department of Health’s study of vaccination compensation schemes in other countries was completed in 2004 and the matter had been allowed to drag on since then.