Barry Ward (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

First of all, I welcome the fact that we are acknowledging tomorrow's inauspicious anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine. It is something we hoped would not have gone on this long but it has. At this juncture, while we mark it with the tabling of a motion in the Seanad, we should also recognise that this House has been very supportive and proactive in relation to Ukraine. Senator Ahearn and I travelled there last year. I hope the Oireachtas will make provision to allow all Members, including Ministers, who want to and are available and able to travel to Ukraine to do so. The greater the extent to which we promote the normality of aligning with our colleagues in Ukraine, the greater the solidarity we have with them, which is very important.

I ask that we have a debate on the report by the Joint Committee on Disability Matters, which I understand is being published today. There are many issues we raise all the time in this Chamber that are bound up. One of the issues I have raised on nearly ten occasions in this House is the thalidomide survivors of this country, of whom there are just over 40. They are all aged in their 60s now, as the youngest of them turned 60 last month. They continue to fight for some level of real recognition from the State, even a genuine and heartfelt apology, and for compensation. It is deeply unfair that this remains unresolved. I ask that we have a debate on this issue and a range of other issues that have been raised in the report of the Joint Committee on Disability Matters.