Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, Independents 4 Change)
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543. To ask the Minister for Health when he plans to reschedule a meeting with an association (details supplied). [2978/22]

Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The management of litigation against the State by certain acknowledged and unacknowledged Thalidomide survivors has been delegated to the State Claims Agency by virtue of S.I. No 405 of 2013.

I am advised that the aforementioned litigation is being case-managed by a judge of the High Court and matters are currently at discovery stage. In those circumstances, given the sub judice fact of the litigation, I am advised that it would not be appropriate for me to meet pending the resolution of the litigation and the matters arising therefrom.

However, I am anxious to assure thalidomide survivors of the Governments ongoing commitment to provide them with the necessary supports to meet their related needs. I have directed my office to set up a meeting with survivors of thalidomide, strictly without prejudice to the ongoing litigation, where I will listen to their needs and talk with them about the work underway to provide health and personal social service supports on an ex-gratia basis on a statutory footing, as committed to by the Government. However, as outlined above, matters which are before the High Court will not form part of the agenda for discussion.