Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)

I join with colleagues in expressing my horror and revulsion at the experiences of the Tánaiste and his family and the intimidation inflicted on them earlier this year. I think the solution to that particular problem rests in following the advice of the Ceann Comhairle yesterday and proceeding to build on the work of the committee on safe participation in public life, led by the former Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan.

Governments in this wonderful little country of ours have on occasions in the past got things wrong. We have made mistakes. We have proven that we can resolve those problems but, very often, the victims of the mistakes tell us that they have had to drag the Government and the public service screaming and crying to the table to find a solution. I am talking today about thalidomide victims. This was raised here on 10 July by our colleague Deputy Barry Ward. That was the anniversary of the appointment of Mr. Justice Gilligan to address the concerns of thalidomide victims, 60 years after their mothers took this drug and the State failed to act expeditiously to have it withdrawn. With the numbers of people who are victims steadily reducing, when oh when will both the Tánaiste, as a compassionate Tánaiste, and the highly compassionate Minister for Health move to ensure that the problems of thalidomide victims are once and for all resolved?

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