Harris apologises for ‘hardships’ suffered by thalidomide survivors

Cillian Sherlock, PA

Taoiseach Simon Harris has apologised to survivors and families affected by thalidomide as the Government revealed details of an enhanced package of health and social care supports.

Thalidomide was prescribed to pregnant mothers in the 1950s to counter the effects of morning sickness but was later pulled because of links to foetal damage, birth defects and lifelong disabilities.

The new package was co-designed with survivors and makes enhanced health, social care and independent living supports available to them.

This includes prioritised and simplified access to local health and social care professionals, access to clinical and holistic therapies, independent living supports to include housing adaptions, car adaptations and home supports, annual health assessments and free travel passes.

In a statement, Mr Harris said: “We want to take this opportunity to express our sympathy to survivors and their families – we are sorry for all they have endured, for the hardships they have suffered and for the impact thalidomide has had on their lives.

“We want to strongly reiterate, once again, their mothers did nothing wrong, and we have never thought otherwise.

“It is regretful that the regulatory standards we have today were not the norm, here or internationally, when thalidomide was first brought to market.

“Understanding and ensuring drug safety has changed significantly based on their experience.”

It comes after a voluntary non-legal facilitation process which began last year.

Mr Harris added: “Significant progress was made. Regrettably, talks did not progress in this format and wider matters raised by survivors were not covered.

“The options of resuming a non-legal facilitation process on these issues, or a legal mediation via the State Claims Agency, remain available.

“However, the Government is very conscious of the challenging needs of survivors, particularly as they get older.

“It is also aware of the costs associated with meeting their needs. Therefore, the Government is anxious to implement these enhanced supports immediately in the best interests of survivors.

“We look forward to meeting with survivors to share further information on the enhanced supports in the coming weeks.”