Barry Ward (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

A Chathaoirligh, ar dtús báire déanaim mo chomhghairdeas leat as ucht an phoist nua. Is é seo an chéad uair a bhí seans agam é sin a rá. Déanaim comhghairdeas leatsa agus leis an gCeannaire maidir leis an ngealltanas atá déanta aici. Déanaim fíor-chomhghairdeas leatsa, a Cheannaire.

This morning, for the eighth time in this House, I want to raise the issue of the Thalidomide survivors in Ireland. I have raised this on a number of occasions inside and outside the House with the relevant Ministers but we are still in a situation where the day after the 60th birthday of Mr. John Stack, the youngest survivor of Thalidomide in this country, there is no solution for these people. Frankly, we are now getting to a stage where it is not only unfair and unreasonable, but absolutely ridiculous, that the State has failed to address this issue. There have been meetings and there is a legal case in being. In fact, this month represents the tenth anniversary of that case. Astonishingly, after ten years, they are still arguing about whether the case is statute barred. The anticipated cost of discovery alone accedes the realistic estimated assessment of what the settlement would be for these people. The time is now for the Minister for Health and for the Government to take serious steps to compensate the survivors of Thalidomide in this country and their families. They require three simple things: real compensation; a proper apology, which is still outstanding; and medical support, as they go on through their lives. That needs to come for all of the survivors, not only the people who were the parties to the case but the other people who have medical diagnoses of Thalidomide. Those people were not served well by this country. The drug was not withdrawn in a timely fashion from the market and they and their families, and their mothers, many of whom have passed on, have suffered enormously. The time is now. Let us get it done and let us make a commitment to these people that is long overdue.