Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

There are 33 Irish survivors of thalidomide. Thalidomide was not licensed by the Irish State. The regime in Ireland in the late 1950s and early 1960s was self-regulated by the drug companies. A regime of self-regulation by drug manufacturers also applied in most other European countries and states. The Government is satisfied that very few countries had systematic controls for licensing drugs at that time. Most countries developed such controls in light of the thalidomide experience. It is certain that a different approach to this matter would be taken today. Judged by the standards of the time, the Department acted in an appropriate manner at the time when faced with an unprecedented situation. The whole approach to dealing with issues of medicine control was completely different in 1962 than it is now. Responsibility for this tragedy rests with the manufacturer of the drug.

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