Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I wish the Cathaoirleach well as he takes up office. I also wish the Leader, Senator Chambers, well. We have already had her as Leader for parts of the last while. I wish them both well. They will be a formidable team and we are lucky and privileged in the Seanad to have people of their calibre. I genuinely say that and I genuinely mean that.

I want to raise the issue of thalidomide. We have had engagements with various representatives from the thalidomide action group both in the Dáil and Seanad. It is a travesty and it is difficult to believe that it was in 1961 that this drug was found to have caused birth defects. I was born in May 1961. I thought when I was writing a few notes today that strangely that is the year I was born and that I was lucky that my mother was not subject to this and that I was not subject to this. The drug was withdrawn in 1961 which I thought was a particularly interesting date as I read up about it again today. The action group and the people involved in it seek a fair and equitable compensation package to ensure their medical and social provisions can be looked after. I think that is reasonable and fair. They have heard a lot of promises and have placed a lot of store in meeting the Taoiseach last year and other people. For some reason we do not get beyond this point.They have had a lot of promises and have placed great store in meeting the Taoiseach last year and meeting other people. For some reason, we do not get beyond this point, despite all the deputations and all the engagement. I ask the Cathaoirleach and anyone else in the House who has contacts to use their good offices to see what we can do for these people. There are not too many of them left. It is really important we get a reasonable, fair compensation package, which is what is due to these people. Let us be fair and just in how we handle the legacy of this terrible issue.