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

The State is not being forced here; it is being very responsive. There are other factors afoot that have frustrated the State's endeavour to bring this to a conclusion. I have to put that on record. The State is wide open and wants to get this resolved. We have established a mediation process. There have been two mediation processes and we have a judge appointed. Apart from all of that, we have already made it very clear that all health services are available now to anybody affected by thalidomide until the end of his or her life. This includes any time they require a consultant or anything. When I was last Taoiseach we set that in train. In my view that was being held up unnecessarily not by the State but by people who were looking for the overall settlement. I said that, in the first instance, we should make sure all healthcare was available, somewhat like earlier schemes, and also housing adaptations or any changes to people's living environment. All of that is available as well.

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