Mary White (Fianna Fail)

I want to bring my Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Labour and Independent colleagues up to date on developments in the treatment of the 32 thalidomide survivors. The Cathaoirleach kindly secured the hearing of my Adjournment last night. The significant role of an Adjournment was proved last night because at the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children, the Minister referred to the Adjournment that was taken last night on the thalidomide situation. My requests, on behalf of the thalidomide survivors, are an apology, proper compensation and disclosure of all legal documents. The Minister, Deputy Harney, declared she had no difficulty with disclosing all of the documents. She did not see why they would not. Therefore, we have a significant breakthrough on one of the significant items.

The thalidomide survivors, as I explained to the Minister yesterday, are in constant pain, morning, noon and night. They require physiotherapy and traction. When one speaks to Ms Finola Cassidy, the association's secretary, one does not see or feel her pain because she can get by with one hand and three fingers. She is such an inspiration.

The Minister's response to the Adjournment last night stated the State had sympathy. As well as disclosing the documents, getting proper compensation, I want not only sympathy but an apology from the State on why it left it eight or nine months after the drug had been withdrawn in Germany by the manufacturer and it was not withdrawn here in time.

Children were born deformed in this country when they should not have been.