The previous Minister's offer in December 2010 to provide ex gratia payments was made in good faith with the knowledge that, if not taken up by survivors, the monies would have to revert to the Exchequer by the end of 2010. The Minister engaged with the two representative groups of Thalidomide survivors. The Minister informed the survivors' representatives that acceptance of the offer would not preclude survivors from entering into negotiations with any future Government and would not affect any legal strategy they may wish to pursue. In the event, the offer of the ex gratia payment was rejected by the two groups.
The Department is currently finalising the voluntary disclosure of records relating to the circumstances surrounding thalidomide in the 1950s/1960s and the arrangements made in the 1970s relating to the survivors of thalidomide. It is hoped to release these records in the very near future.
In addition, the Health Service Executive in conjunction with Dr Paul O'Connell, Consultant Neurologist, is currently finalising the details of the special care packages and the associated process to assess the health needs of survivors. My Department is prepared to involve survivors and their representatives in the process should they choose to participate.