Sinn Féin TD for Dublin South West Seán Crowe has welcomed Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly’s announcement of the establishment of an inquiry into the prescribing of Valproate to pregnant women who were completely unaware of the likely impact on their unborn babies.

Teachta Crowe said:

“We know up to 1,250 children born between 1975 and 2015 have been impacted by their expectant mothers taking a drug called Epilim, which contained sodium valproate, in Ireland. Some families have had number of their children impacted.

“The women had not been informed that taking the drug during pregnancy could impact on foetal development.

“There are many questions to be answered. Families need to be fully involved with this inquiry and need to be satisfied that the terms of reference uncover the truth.

“We know a huge amount of work has been done in France that has led to the setting up of a redress scheme. A similar scheme needs to be set up here in Ireland.

“This inquiry should not be dragged out for years and years as we have seen with inquiries into health related scandals in the past. It should be a focussed and concise inquiry so that families can receive the redress and apology they deserve.”