Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

-----are doing.

In relation to thalidomide survivors, there is a process of engagement currently under way with at least some of the survivors of thalidomide, although there are different groups and many different individuals involved. Progress has been made with respect to the provision of health and social care assistance to respond to the current and future needs of thalidomide survivors. The Government is committed to focusing on the needs of survivors now and into the future. I want to pick up on something Deputy Andrews said. I want to make it very clear that neither the mothers nor any of the survivors are in any way responsible for what happened to them. I think that is very clear and everyone understands that. The company is responsible for the medicine that was produced. It was not licensed by the State and medicines were not licensed by the State back then in the way that they are now. Compensation is paid by the company. It is an ongoing payment. Ex gratia payments are made by the State. Some have accepted that and some have not. There is a whole package of healthcare, medical and other assistance that is on offer. We encourage survivors to engage with the designated nurse to become aware of what is available to them in terms of healthcare and practical supports. Some have not done so, and I would hate to think that they are being discouraged from doing so in any way. I encourage any survivor to engage with a designated person to find out about all the additional healthcare and other supports that are already available, in addition to the financial compensation.

Certainly, when it comes to an apology, as I said before, I have made apologies in this House as Taoiseach. I have no difficulty making them, but I do know something about making an apology in this House. First, it has to be adequate; the people who receive the apology have to believe that it is adequate and sufficient. Also, it has to be sincere. You cannot apologise for things that did not happen, for example. Getting it right is very important.

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