Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish to raise just one issue, which is on the Irish Thalidomide Association. I have raised this issue twice in January. One of the most important functions and powers that we have as Senators is to shine a light in a dark place. I have said this very often, and I use this analogy because I believe it to be true. The association have been in touch with me, and in touch with all Oireachtas Members. I have seen the correspondence flowing backwards and forwards. Some Members have responded and some have chosen not to do so, which is their call. I appeal not only to the Leader today, I also wish to appeal to every Member of these Houses of the Oireachtas. Most parties have parliamentary party meetings on Wednesday evenings. I call on Members to ask genuinely and highlight the plight of these people. It is nearly 60 years ago. Ireland is one of the last jurisdictions in the world where litigation around the damage done by the morning sickness drug is still ongoing against Grünenthal. It is very sad. I spoke with a woman recently who said that all her life she wanted the wrong that had happened to her to be recognised. She did not really want redress but she wanted some explanation for her family. She said that she had always struggled to get a job and among all of the people in her community, there was enormous bias against the "little person" as she described herself, and people had said they would not have work suitable for her. How does this make one feel? Many of the people who were affected have struggled to have relationships too. I have had long conversations with many of these people; but there are not too many of them there. We all want to be loved, we all want to be respected and we all want to be valued. These are innate requirements for us all, whatever our choices and whatever our options. These people are crying out for support. We are the Oireachtas and we are the Parliament. Their simple request today is to meet the Minister for Health. He has agreed but today I contacted them and still there was no proper date or appointment for a meeting with the representative body. I ask colleagues to please use their power and their voice to undertake to raise this issue at their parliamentary party meetings this evening in order that we can have a meeting with the association and the Minister, and chart a course with them as they wish to proceed, and put this behind us. While many of these people were not lucky to have the opportunity to have a family, some do have families, and they all need our support. Let us stand in solidarity with these people and their association.