Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Finola Cassidy of the Irish Thalidomide Association has described the offer as derisory. There are only 32 surviving victims, and Ms Cassidy said they feel shell shocked and deeply disappointed. They are all in their late 40s or early 50s. We are talking about €60 per week in respect of the annual payment. It is abysmally low, as is the lump sum of €60,000. Whoever was responsible for making this assessment clearly has little understanding or regard for the challenges that these people have faced and will continue to face for the rest of their lives. We should be able to provide more generously and offer language that reflects our collective national sorrow at what has happened. Is it in the Government's gift to revisit the proposals in this instance? They need to be dramatically improved.

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