The Taoiseach and Tánaiste have taken “personal responsibility” to ensure the resolution programme for people affected by thalidomide is completed, the representative group has said following a meeting with the politicians.
Thalidomide was developed in Germany in the 1950s as a sedative or tranquiliser but was later widely promoted as a drug to treat morning sickness during pregnancy.
It was withdrawn from most markets in 1961 following widespread evidence of its link to birth defects, but was still sold in Ireland until 1964.
Many children were born without limbs or with shortened limbs, with hearing and vision impairment and injuries to internal organs.
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In September 2024, the Government appointed retired High Court Judge Mr Justice Paul Gilligan to engage with thalidomide survivors in what is known as the thalidomide resolution process.
However, the process reached an impasse and there is an issue around 12 “unacknowledged” thalidomide survivors whose mothers took the drug after it had been officially withdrawn.
The Irish Thalidomide Association (ITA) met with Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris on Thursday afternoon to advance the resolution process.
Speaking after the meeting, Finola Cassidy, ITA spokeswoman and thalidomide survivor, said it was a “good meeting” but “it was so overdue that we had an awful lot to say”.
Both Mr Harris and Mr Martin have taken personal responsibility to end this process, the ITA said.
“We’ve been looking for political responsibility on this for a long time, because, you know, they are the people who can fix this once and for all,” Ms Cassidy said.
“We had some issues that we have probably a better understanding with the two sides on, and that needed to be secured.”
The group will again meet with Mr Martin and Mr Harris in one month. Ms Cassidy said it is hoped this results in “serious movement on the promises”.
“The saga is going on for six decades,” she said. “The mothers are getting older; we have very few left. We’ve lost some very, very dear friends and we really need closure at this stage.”
Ms Cassidy said there was no indication as to timelines on when the resolution process will be complete, adding “the issues are too complex”.
The ITA has repeatedly said it wants a State apology, statutory supports and a fair compensation scheme to be introduced.
There are about 40 thalidomide survivors in Ireland, all in their 60s, who the association says should be fully recognised. A handful of mothers of thalidomide survivors are also still alive, some of whom are in their 90s.
In 1975, a financial settlement was reached between Ireland and Grünenthal, the German maker of thalidomide. However, the ITA has consistently stated this agreement was made at a time when those affected were not expected to survive for long. It says the complexity of their health needs decades later could not be anticipated.
