In the Dáil recently, the delay in establishing the historical inquiry into the licensing and prescribing of Sodium Valproate was raised with the Taoiseach by Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh.
Issues surrounding Sodium Valproate have been in the media recently, following two high-profile High Court cases – which involved multi-million euro settlements for the children impacted.
However, not all children/families impacted will have access to the court system and this is why an inquiry being established is so important. Affected families should not be expected to litigate in order to be supported by their State.
Together with our colleagues in OACS Ireland - the representatives of families affected - we have been working to have the inquiry established. Despite the Terms of Reference for the inquiry being agreed towards the end of last year, there has been no further indication on when the inquiry will be established.
This inquiry must be established as soon as possible and we eagerly await a further update from the Department of Health and the Minister for Health regarding this. We will continue to use every avenue available to us to seek progress on this most important matter.
You can see the recent question from the Dáil in the video below.
To learn more about this issue, visit the ‘Advocacy’ section of our website.
Further information
- To learn more about the Sodium Valproate Pregnancy Prevention Programme, visit the 'Sodium Valproate' section of our website
- Further information on OACS Ireland can be found by visiting the OACS Ireland website . If you believe you have been impacted by Sodium Valproate, please reach out to them.
- If you are hearing about Sodium Valproate for the first time, see our section on why an inquiry was announced in November 2020.
**PLEASE CONTACT YOUR HEALTHCARE TEAM IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS. DO NOT STOP TAKING VALPROATE WITHOUT FIRST SPEAKING WITH YOUR PRESCRIBER.**