Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Tánaiste for her response. The families affected believe they have been ignored, sidelined and let down by the State. I am giving the Tánaiste an opportunity to make a statement on behalf of the Government to the effect that it will consider the issues of compensation, establishing a register for those who have taken or will take valproate and the putting in place of appropriate care pathways. The women concerned have had to fight for every single element of treatment for their children. They have had to fight and scrap hard and want to hear that the Tánaiste, the Government and the Dáil are on their side. They want to know that the Government is on their side and will not treat them in the same way it treated other women who fought for themselves and their families. There is a black mark on the history of the State in that regard, as the Tánaiste has acknowledged. We have an opportunity to do this the right way and I urge the Government to take it.

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