Thalidomide victims handed in a letter to the Taoiseach today demanding a State apology for the 32 remaining Irish victims.
Finola Cassidy, spokeswoman for Irish Thalidomide Association (ITA) said the move followed two years of "stagnant" talks with Minister for Health Mary Harney.
Thalidomide, a drug that caused birth deformities, was sold to pregnant women between 1958 and 1961.
“Our parents reached a compensation agreement with the Government 1975 when we were 12-year-old children but the settlement was a miniscule amount,” Ms Cassidy said.
She said the Government predicted they would all be dead by now and there is no provision for middle age as mobility decreases and pain increases. Some of their members are on as little as €16 per day, she added.
Maggie Woods, a surviving victim from Galway, said victims were seeking a full apology from the State for licensing the drug to pregnant mothers.
They also wanted full disclosure of documents relating to the failure of the Government to immediately ban the drug after being warned of the dangers.
They also wanted "adequate" support from the Government to deal with new challenges associated with old age.