It was extraordinary that vaccine trials carried out on children in care decades ago were being investigated at a time when the Department of Health was about to bring in an immunisation programme based on some of that research, Dr Mary Henry (Ind) told the House. Dr Irene Hillary, who had played an important role in the conduct of various trials, should be praised for the work she had done "rather than having this very unfortunate situation arising".
Dr Henry was speaking on a motion to enable the Laffoy Commission on Child Abuse to inquire into the circumstances, legality, conduct, ethical propriety and effects on the subjects of three clinical trials involving babies and children in institutional settings in 1960/61, 1970 and 1973. The commission will also be able to inquire into any systematic trials found to have taken place in institutions between January 1st, 1940, and December 31st, 1978, following an allegation by a person that he or she as a child in an institution was "a subject thereof".
Introducing the motion, which was passed, the Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children, Dr Tom Moffet, said the report on the three trials laid before the Houses last November had been unable to answer a number of questions.
Dr Henry said she was sorry the Child Abuse Act was being used to investigate this situation as she did not think the children involved had been abused.
Ms Mary Jackman (FG) said we should all be extremely concerned about children in State care. If it emerged that the health of such children had been damaged, she hoped the Minister would be able to make adequate compensation available to them.