Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the Minister for Health I wish to say it was because this is directly after an hour and a quarter of questions and the Minister had something else timetabled. I am sure he has not only seen the response but is still very committed to this area. With regard to the previous debate we had on Question Time, it is significant that two Deputies, both from the Opposition, raised the same matter as a Topical Issue.

I am pleased to take this opportunity to outline the Government's position on Irish survivors of thalidomide raised by Deputies Ó Snodaigh and Ó Fearghaíl. The Government recognises that each individual survivor of thalidomide faces challenges. How could we not? In this context, the Government's aim is to address the health and personal social care needs of thalidomide survivors living in Ireland. The Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly, has stated he is willing to enter into discussions with the Irish Thalidomide Association and the Irish Thalidomide Survivors Society on the basis of a health care package on a non-statutory basis, which I know is not what they seek; an ex gratia payment having regard to current financial circumstances; and a statement to the Dáil recognising the challenges faced by survivors. I genuinely believe if we get two out of three we will have the basis for engagement.

The current position is that in 2012 the Irish Thalidomide Association publicly announced it had ceased talks with the Government. The association's legal adviser has initiated personal injuries claims against the manufacturer and distributors of the thalidomide drug and the State. The Irish Thalidomide Survivors Society has sought guarantees on other issues, including an independent agency and a statutory health care package to include other aspects of their needs such as housing, heating, transport and clothing. These are outside the remit of the health sector. The Minister requested that the society consider, in good faith, proceeding with a health care protocol. The health care protocol envisaged appointing and training a multidisciplinary team, arranging a multidisciplinary health evaluation, identifying and documenting the health care needs and issues of thalidomide survivors and developing plans to address these needs. The Minister's position remains unchanged.

I would also like to outline for the House the financial supports provided to Irish survivors of thalidomide since 1975, which is in no way to say they are in any way a compensatory issue. The payments made by the State in 1975 to the survivors of thalidomide and their families were made because the State believed then that it was appropriate to make some provision for the survivors. The payments made were substantial and were designed to augment payments made to the survivors by a German foundation. As Deputy Ó Snodaigh correctly pointed out, at that point it was never envisaged that survivors would live into middle age or beyond. There are 32 Irish thalidomide survivors, and each survivor received lump sum payments from a German foundation and the Irish Government in the early 1970s. In 1975, the lump sums paid by the Irish Government ranged from €6,400 to €21,000. In addition, each survivor receives ongoing monthly payments from both the German foundation and the Irish Government. Combining the Irish and German payments, most individuals receive €30,386 per annum or €2,572 per month, tax free. The German and Irish monthly allowance is not reckonable for State benefits and each individual is automatically entitled to a medical card. The Government's response to the plight of thalidomide survivors from 1975 to date has been reasonable and compassionate in its provision of financial and other supports to augment payments made by the German foundation. The Minister's proposals to provide a non-statutory health care package and his offer of meaningful discussions around a financial gesture of goodwill towards survivors of thalidomide represents the Government's commitment in the programme for Government, very much recognising that the 32 people involved face substantial challenges every day of their lives.

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