Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

Ba mhaith liom buíochas a ghlacadh leis an Seanadóir as ucht an cheist seo a ardú anseo inniu. I am replying to this debate on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Mary Harney. I am pleased to take this opportunity to outline the position in respect of the matter raised by the Senator. She will be aware that the Minister has met the Irish Thalidomide Association a number of times since 2008. At the Minister's request, the State Claims Agency considered the association's claims and made recommendations to her. Following consideration of the agency's report, she announced on 27 April that the Government had accepted the report and decided to provide additional services and financial supports for survivors of thalidomide.

The Minister subsequently met groups representing survivors of thalidomide and briefed them on the Government's decision. At those meetings, a number of issues were raised by legal representatives on behalf of the survivors' organisations, including the issue raised in the Senator's motion. The Minister informed the survivors that she would have the issues considered in consultation with the Attorney General. She will proceed on the basis of his advice.

A detailed response to all of the issues raised by the solicitors for the Irish Thalidomide Association will be issued shortly. In circumstances where it is clear that litigation is being contemplated, Members will appreciate that it would be inappropriate to enter into detailed discussion on the specific issue raised in the motion at this point in time.

The additional measures announced by the Government were the provision for special care packages for thalidomide survivors living in Ireland, the designation of a senior manager in the HSE to act as a liaison with regard to the survivors' ongoing health and personal social services needs, a one-off ex gratia payment of €2 million to be divided equally between the survivors, the payment of an annual lump sum in addition to current payments of up to €3,680 for survivors in the most severe category and the provision of financial assistance for transport needs. This is a reasonable and compassionate response aimed at meeting the medical and other needs of survivors.

The thalidomide product sold in Ireland was manufactured by Chemie Grünenthal, a German company. Irish survivors of thalidomide receive compensation from a German foundation set up for that purpose of up to €1,116 per month tax free. In addition, the German Government has recently awarded an additional annual payment of €3,680 per annum. A monthly allowance is also paid by the Department of Health and Children and is currently up to €1,109.46 per month. The majority of Irish survivors are in receipt of the maximum allowance from Germany and Ireland.

Combining German and Irish payments, the average total amount received by Irish survivors is, therefore, €26,000 per annum, with the maximum being €30,386. The monthly allowance is tax-free and is not reckonable for State benefits, including the disability allowance, which is currently €849 per month. Each individual is automatically entitled to a medical card.

I know the Minister joins me in saying that the State has great sympathy for the survivors and it is most regrettable that they should have been put through so much pain and suffering. I assure this House of the Minister's commitment to addressing the health care and related needs of all the Irish survivors of thalidomide. All her actions to date have been prompted by this commitment.