Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I join with the Leas-Chathaoirleach in welcoming our special guests and I thank Senator Fitzpatrick. Mr. Benicio made a great and significant contribution and input. I have no doubt we will hear more about him in the future. Well done and many thanks.

I join with Senator McGreehan in respect of the Irish Thalidomide Association. It is something that has been sitting on all our desks for a long time. Yet again, I too appeal to the Government to re-engage with the Irish Thalidomide Association in its quest for justice. That goes for all of us on all sides of these Houses. It has gone on for too long. Thalidomide, a chemical ingredient, was sold in Ireland from 1957 to 1961 to alleviate morning sickness. It was withdrawn internationally in 1961 after it was found to have caused major birth defects. Babies were born with shortened or no limbs, with painful damage to nerve ends, organs, hearing and eyesight. There are now estimated to be around 40 survivors in Ireland. I particularly acknowledge the work of thalidomide survivor, Finola Cassidy, who is, after all, the spokesperson of the association and again has called for the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste to support their call for justice.They have had many promises and have met many of us in these Houses and, each week, they think they are going to have progress but there is none. It is very disappointing. It is disingenuous to raise people's expectations. There are so few of these people left. The Minister, Deputy Donnelly, has indicated that he is anxious to provide bespoke healthcare services to all the survivors, but is that enough? I think they are looking for a lot more, and rightly so. Survivors want a formal State apology and an appropriate compensation package and, above all, they want adequate provisions for medical expenses and their lives going forward. I ask that we all join in asking the Acting Leader to communicate with the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste and the Government to see if we can have meaningful re-engagement in this really important quest for justice.