Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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157. To ask the Minister for Health the action he plans to take to ensure that those who suffered narcolepsy after receiving the pandemrix vaccine will receive appropriate compensation without court cases. [49533/21]

Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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202. To ask the Minister for Health the action he has taken to date to ensure that those who suffered narcolepsy after receiving the pandemrix vaccine have received adequate compensation. [49534/21]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 157 and 202 together.

The State Claims Agency (SCA) has a statutory remit to manage personal injury claims on behalf of Delegated State Authorities including the Health Service Executive. The management of cases taken by persons who allege they developed Narcolepsy and/or Cataplexy as a result of receiving the H1N1 vaccine, Pandemrix, is delegated to SCA and, as such, the Government has no role in determining how these cases are conducted.

I understand, however, that the SCA has established a Scheme of Settlement in relation to this litigation whereby plaintiffs have the facility of resolving their claims through a formal mediation process with an ultimate right of appeal to a retired superior court judge. I am informed that the Scheme is functioning well and a number of cases have been successfully resolved. Other cases are in the process of resolution by the Scheme.