Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Following on from the CervicalCheck scandal, many people in the thalidomide community had hoped their litigation would be completed in a sensitive and timely fashion, rather than through an adversarial court system. It is clear the Minister for Health has instructed his legal team to endeavour to achieve a technical knock-out of the thalidomide litigants' entitlement by bringing a spurious legal point. The chairperson of the Irish Thalidomide Association condemns in the strongest possible manner the actions of the Minister with regard to his unwarranted, inappropriate and insensitive approach. The Taoiseach said recently that we need to create a culture of truth in the health service. Where is the culture of truth for these people, many of whom are still waiting to have their cases settled? Why would the Government not take the same sensible and more humane approach that it took in respect of the CervicalCheck scandal and take care of these litigants who deserve justice now?

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