DOCUMENTS HELD by the Department of Health in relation to the circumstances surrounding the use and withdrawal of the drug thalidomide in the 1950s and early 1960s are finally to be released to Irish thalidomide survivors.
In addition, documentation surrounding arrangements made in the 1970s to compensate survivors are also to be released.
The Irish Thalidomide Association has been seeking the documentation for some time in order to try and establish why the drug, taken by pregnant women for morning sickness, but which resulted in many children being born with deformities, including missing or shortened limbs, was allowed on to the Irish market in the first place and why the public was not immediately warned about its dangers when it was withdrawn by its German manufacturer in December 1961. The Department of Health did not notify doctors and hospitals until July 1962. The drug was also licensed in several other European countries but not in the US.
Minister for Health Mary Harney has promised all files in relation to the thalidomide scandal will be released once they have been copied and redacted.
Finola Cassidy of the Irish Thalidomide Association welcomed the development but said the promise had actually been made weeks ago in a letter but no documents had yet been released.
Meanwhile, her association is still seeking a new and improved compensation package for thalidomide survivors as well as an apology from the State for what happened them. The association has said the settlements handed out in 1975 were inadequate, given many survivors are living longer than might have originally been expected. Individuals received lump sums of between £6,600 and £21,300 and a monthly allowance for life of between £31.75 and £95.
Last December, it emerged the British government was planning to offer an apology and a further £20 million (€ 22.6 million) in compensation to its 466 thalidomide survivors. In April this year, Ms Harney offered a new package to survivors including lump sums of €62,500 for each of the 32 survivors in the State, plus an annual lump sum of up to €3,680 each. It also included provisions such as special care packages and financial assistance to assist with transport needs where necessary. The redress was rejected as derisory by survivors.
The main Opposition parties have promised to look at increased compensation for survivors if in government after the general election. Dr James Reilly, Fine Gael’s health spokesman, said his party would be prepared to look at the compensation issue in light of the fact that survivors are developing unforeseen complications later in life. Labour’s health spokeswoman Jan O’Sullivan said the compensation issue was something her party would deal with if in government.