asked the Minister for Health if he will release the full report of the survey conducted into the incidence of thalidomide-induced deformities in Ireland; and if he will also release the follow-up report.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Thalidomide Deformities.
61.
The report on the survey of limb deformities which might be attributable to the use of thalidomide was in the form of a series of tables which included the incidence of certain congenital defects by counties, and contained clinical details of the precise nature of the defects. As it might be possible to identify individual cases from the data shown it would not, in my opinion, be in the public interest to release it. The situation disclosed by the report has, of course, been made public, through information given on the 4th June, 1964 on the introduction of the Estimate for the Department of Health for 1964-65 and in reply to a number of Parliamentary Questions.
The primary object of the follow-up report was to establish whether the incidence of congenital abnormalities returned to the earlier level after the withdrawal of thalidomide. The report showed inter alia that it had done so.
Is the Minister aware that every clinical report could identify the subjects and not necessarily this one? I do not think his explanation is good enough. It is a very lame excuse for not publishing the report, which is a very important one.
I do not agree with the Deputy.
The whole purpose of the survey was that it be published.