Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)

I would like to ask about an issue I raised last Tuesday, in advance of that evening's meeting of the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party. Has it been decided to introduce legislation in relation to the victims of thalidomide, to issue them an apology and to negotiate an agreed settlement with them? I understand that this matter was debated on Tuesday evening by the Fianna Fáil Parliamentary Party. On a second matter, according to the media the Minister for Health and Children will announce later today that approximately €200 million is to be taken out of the health budget. She has not come before this Parliament in that regard. No such measure was provided for in the Estimates we discussed earlier this year, which were referred back from the committee.

See this speech in context