There is some disappointment among thalidomide survivors over a Government belief that more work needs to be done before the State can issue an apology.
The Irish Thalidomide Association (ITA) said there has been “a little bit of headway” towards resolving outstanding issues following a meeting with Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris on Monday.
A commitment has been given that there will be a State apology, with Harris previously saying 2026 “has to be the year where we bring some degree of closure to people who’ve been treated so badly”.
However, the issue of “unacknowledged” survivors remains outstanding.
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There are about 40 thalidomide survivors in Ireland, though of these, 12 are unacknowledged by the State.
Thalidomide was developed in Germany in the 1950s as a sedative or tranquilliser, 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It was withdrawn from most markets in 1961 following widespread evidence of its link to birth defects, but was still sold in Ireland until 1964.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.
In September 2024, the Government appointed retired High Court judge Paul Gilligan to engage with thalidomide survivors in what is known as the thalidomide resolution process.
There is an outstanding issue around 12 “unacknowledged” thalidomide survivors whose mothers took the drug after it had been officially withdrawn.
The ITA wants a State apology, recognition of the unacknowledged survivors, statutory supports and a fair compensation scheme to be introduced.
After Monday’s meeting, ITA spokeswoman Finola Cassidy said there had been “a big focus” on the issue of unacknowledged survivors, adding “we made a little bit of headway” and “we now have a bit of a slightly more game plan”.
She also told RTÉ Radio’s Drivetime that members of the ITA “cannot wait any longer” and “sadly, I think there will be other people who will have passed before the end of this year, and we are broken-hearted”.
Cassidy said: “We feel that if we got to a resolution of how that process of acknowledging them [the unacknowledged survivors] will take place, that would be really, really crucial.”
She added: “We are still slightly disappointed that they want a lot more done before the apology will happen. We had previously asked that the apology would be fast-tracked.”
Cassidy said the State has “to accept their hand, act and part in the historical legacy, and then there has to be financial recompense”.
She said there “probably has been has been good headway on some of the medical help that has been required” but also that this “has to be on a statutory basis”.
After the meeting, a Government spokesman said: “The Taoiseach, Tánaiste and the Attorney General met with the Irish Thalidomide Association and their legal representative today.
“The priority remains unchanged: to work on a fair and credible pathway for unacknowledged survivors.
“The Government is committed to ensuring that acknowledged survivors continue to receive practical, person-centred supports and services to help them live independently and with dignity.
“The Taoiseach and Tánaiste remain committed to further engagement in the autumn.”
