asked the Minister for Health if he is aware of further deformities being discovered in relation to the thalidomide drug; and if, in the light of this, he will consider an up-to-date assessment of thalidomide victims and reassessment of those cases disqualified.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Thalidomide Victims.
7.
I am aware that the German Foundation for the Relief of Deformed Children have indicated to parents of children in receipt of compensation that further deformities will be admitted to the points table by which compensation is calculated. If the addition of extra points for these disabilities brings a patient into a higher compensation category the lump sum and allowance already awarded will be increased. The admission of these further deformities will not have any effect in cases in which the maximum lump sums and maximum monthly allowances were awarded by the German Foundation.
My Department maintain close contact with the Association for Justice for Irish Thalidomide Children and will facilitate the parents or guardians of any children in making claims for increased allowances or lump sums if they consider that they can benefit from the extension of admissible malformations. A letter to this effect was sent to each parent and guardian on 29th September last.
Where, as a result of this an increased award is made by the German Foundation, the payments made from the Irish Government will be adjusted upwards in line with the existing formula.
I should mention that the present German approach to the parents deals with the supplementation of the benefits for those with accepted disability. There is no evidence that the further malformations which are listed in awarding points for compensation exist in isolation from the malformations already identified in accepted cases. Accordingly, it is not expected that new cases entitled to compensation will now come to light.
Will the Minister not agree that there is a whole series of new deformities coming to light as a result of the thalidomide drug? Secondly, is he aware that his Department have a deplorable record in their treatment of such cases, of bringing to the attention of parents their rights and entitlements and even examining the children? In view of the fact that new deformities have come to light in addition to the ones already existing, would he consider reassessing some cases that were rejected very arbitrarily as a result of previous examinations when there was no knowledge of the deformities that have since come to light?
I cannot say that I accept everything the Deputy has said but I will consider the suggestion made.
I know this is not the Minister's fault and I am not trying to apportion blame. I would remind the Minister that it was only after my putting down parliamentary questions for several years that we got action. It took nearly five years to get action in the first place. I would ask him to consider this matter objectively. I know he is not biased. Some borderline cases were rejected but some of the children concerned are so deformed they might come under the criteria established for identifying thalidomide cases and, in the circumstances, I would appreciate it if the Minister would consider such cases.