Áine Brady (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)

I am pleased to have this opportunity to outline the position in relation to the matter raised by the Deputy. The Minister and Department officials met with the Irish Thalidomide Association on a number of occasions at which the ITA sought a review of the payments by the Irish Government to the survivors of thalidomide.

The Minister considered the detailed proposals made by the ITA, met again with the association in March 2009 and undertook to consider its claim further. In May 2009, the Department asked the State claims agency to examine the association's claims and assess its requests in the context of Irish and International provisions for survivors of thalidomide and in the context of Irish case law and precedent and to advise the Minister accordingly. The State claims agency met with representatives of the association on 25 June last year and listened carefully to its position. The agency has expressed its willingness to meet again with the groups representing survivors of thalidomide, following which it will report to the Minister. Any proposal arising out of this process will need to be considered by Government.

The thalidomide product sold in Ireland was manufactured by Chemie Grunenthal - a German company. An offer of compensation made in 1970 by the German manufacturers of thalidomide applied to Irish children. The German compensation, paid through a statutory foundation set up for the purpose, was in the form of a lump sum and a monthly allowance for life. The foundation is funded by a covenant from the German drugs manufacturer. The Irish Government decided in 1974 to augment the compensation provided by the German foundation. The decision was to provide a lump sum of four times the German amount and a monthly allowance for life, which was equivalent to the German allowance, to each Irish survivor of thalidomide. The lump sum paid by the Irish Government in 1975 ranged from €6,400 to €21,200.

There are currently 32 Irish survivors of thalidomide. The Irish allowance is paid by the Department of Health and Children. The total annual payment received by survivors including the German payment is currently up to €28,500 per annum. The majority of Irish survivors receive the maximum amount. The monthly allowance is tax-free and is not reckonable for State benefits. Each individual is automatically entitled to a medical card.

The Government accepts the concerns expressed by the Irish survivors of thalidomide regarding their continuing and increasing health needs as they get older. The Minister awaits receipt of the report of the State claims agency.

See this speech in context