Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I would like to make the case, like Deputy Bacik earlier, for the thalidomide survivors once again. More than a year ago, members of my parliamentary party met Sandra Sweeney who was making the case that a public apology was deserved for survivors. Unfortunately, as Deputy Bacik referred to, Elizabeth Sweeney passed away in the past few days. Approximately five mothers remain from that period and approximately 40 thalidomide survivors in total. Many of those mothers are living with the guilt and shame of the fact that they took medicine. At that time they did not know the ill-effects it would have on their children. The British issued a state apology many years ago. The Australians did it more than a year ago. When will Ireland consider making a public apology to the thalidomide survivors? I raised this with my own party leader when he was Taoiseach. We raised it with Deputy Varadkar when he was Taoiseach and we are now raising it with the new Taoiseach. It needs urgent consideration.

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