Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 July 2025
763. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Health to provide an update on the drafting of underpinning legislation for the non-statutory inquiry into sodium valproate; when this is expected to be completed; and when the public-facing elements of the inquiry will commence. [35573/25]
View answerMs. Bríd O’Flaherty BL was appointed Chair of the ‘Non-Statutory Inquiry into the Historical Licensing and Use of Sodium Valproate in Women of Child-Bearing Potential in the State’ in June last year. Since then, significant work has been carried out to put in place the necessary arrangements to operationalise and establish the inquiry.
Prior to the formal commencement of the inquiry, it is necessary to have in place regulations made under the Data Protection Act 2018, to ensure that there is a robust legal basis supporting the work of the inquiry and that data protection obligations are being supported appropriately.
The Department of Health, in collaboration with the Department of Justice, the Office of Parliamentary Counsel and the Data Protection Commission are drafting the necessary Statutory Instruments to provide this robust legal basis as a priority. When these have been finalised, it is anticipated that the public facing elements of the inquiry will commence shortly thereafter.
