asked the Minister for Health the reasons for the setting up of a medical board at this time to deal with the problem of thalidomide children.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Thalidomide Children.
10.
As stated in the Press statements and advertisements issued in this connection, the Minister set up this board in consultation with the Association for Justice for Irish Thalidomide Children for two broad purposes. First, it was to assist parents who might have a claim against the German compensation fund, as the processing of claims by the assessors of that fund is now nearing completion. Secondly, the Government had decided in principle that it should help to augment the compensation which will be made available to Irish children from the German fund and I wished to have expert advice on the special needs of each child to help me decide in what way such needs can best be catered for.