asked the Minister for Health when he expects to receive the report of the medical team at present surveying the incidence of congenital deformities throughout the country.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Incidence of Congenital Deformities.
9.
I presume that the question refers to the further survey, undertaken by the Medical Research Council, of deformities in babies born in a period after the use of thalidomide had been discontinued, to which I referred in my reply to a question by Deputy Kyne on 8th April, 1964, and in my speech when introducing the Estimate for my Department for the current year. This survey was undertaken in an effort to obtain a clearer picture of the influence exercised by this drug.
My latest information is that the necessary investigations were completed recently and that the council expects to be in a position to furnish their report to me by the end of next month.