Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I fully accept the Deputy's right to put forward a cross-party motion but, in my experience, where one has a legal process and a political process, someone has to represent the broad issue as well. The optimal way to resolve this is to get into a meaningful process and tease through all of the issues. The ultimate liability, never forget, is with the company involved. Legislation was passed, as the Deputy is aware, in Germany which allows for the Contergan Foundation to make payments to thalidomide survivors. We want to make absolutely sure that whatever we do does not in any way result - legislation was passed more recently - in any contributions we make simply being subtracted from the contributions that foundation makes. Legal clarity is being sought on that and it is something that is important and cannot be dismissed. Payments continue to be made. I am open to getting this resolved as quickly as we can. I would like to do so but previous experience shows that we should get into a process to get it resolved. I am willing to do that and I will be back to the representatives on this within the next two weeks.

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