DISCRETIONARY MEDICAL CARDS are to be provided to individuals who are still waiting for acknowledgement and confirmation that their injuries were caused by the Thalidomide drug.

Board members of the Irish Thalidomide Association (ITA) met with Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris at Government Buildings today. 

The two leaders confirmed that the health minister has agreed to provide discretionary medical cards to unacknowledged Thalidomide survivors.

This will apply to individuals who are currently seeking acknowledgement, or those who intend to seek acknowledgement, as survivors of Thalidomide through the State process.  

The Taoiseach and Tánaiste also confirmed an enhanced package of services to all Thalidomide survivors and agreed to meet with members of the board next month. 

During the meeting they discussed the judge-led facilitation process which has been put in place by Government, whereby Judge Paul Gilligan, retired judge of the Court of Appeal, has been appointed as the independent facilitator for this process.

Ex-gratia payments

Work in this role began nine months ago, and Judge Gilligan has been meeting with survivors and will make recommendations to Government on an ex-gratia payment for each member. 

Today, the Taoiseach and Tánaiste explained that the pathway for people who have not yet had their injuries affirmed as caused by the Thalidomide drug is being completed.

Before the meeting today, Thalidomide survivors said they hoped the meeting would result in “a shift in the dial” for the thalidomide resolution process.

Thalidomide was prescribed to pregnant mothers in the 1950s and 1960s as an anti-morning sickness drug but was later pulled because of links to birth defects and lifelong disabilities.

The German manufacturer of the drug apologised in 2012 to those born without limbs as a result of its use.

Last year, then-taoiseach Simon Harris announced an enhanced health package for survivors, including simplified access to local health and social care professionals, access to clinical and holistic therapies, independent living supports to include housing adaptations, car adaptations and home supports, annual health assessments and free travel passes.

The thalidomide resolution process, led by retired judge Paul Gilligan, was also set up. 

Thalidomide campaigners have claimed that the process, which is confidential, has stalled.

“We have sought this meeting for many, many months to try and address the total impasse and the lack of proper engagement, and some very broken promises,” said Finola Cassidy of the Irish Thalidomide Association (ITA).

“We’re hoping that today will be actually a shift in the dial and we can actually move on here. So hopefully we will have some very good indications of meaningful progress coming out of this.”

She added: “After 60 years, it is far beyond time for the state to take full responsibility for its role and deliver justice for survivors.”

There are some 40 survivors of thalidomide in Ireland.

With reporting by Press Association