IRISH THALIDOMIDE SURVIVORS SOCIETY

IRISH THALIDOMIDE SURVIVORS SOCIETY

THE HISTORYTHE HISTORY

On January 9th 1975 minister for health, Mr. Brendan Corish, promised to provide atonement and essential services to our parents in good faith on a non-statutory basis

The backbone of this commitment Was"The government Has been concerned to see that the children are provided with monetary provision in the form of a index linked pension, all services and aids necessitated by their disabilities in order for them to lead as normal a life as possible "

Based on this commitment made with Brendan Corish our parents acted in good faith and agreed to accept and move forward with governments proposed commitment

The reality, government did not deliver on their commitment of “good faith”.

We are perfectly justified not to rush in and accept an undertaking based on good faith.

We do not accept that it is not possible to provide a guarantee without liability.

KEY POINTS OF 1975 AGREEMENT KEY POINTS OF 1975 AGREEMENT

Above objectives would meet pace over time

The commitment embodied in the 1975 agreement regardless of legal status should meet the solemn commitment expressed

1975 monetary provision received by us was index-linked. (Now it is solely tied into increases in social welfare)

REFERENCE TO OTHER MEMBER

STATES

REFERENCE TO OTHER MEMBER

STATES

The British, Swedish, German, Finnish and Italian

governments have morally stepped up to the plate.

Said governments have also claimed no legal obligation to thalidomide survivors.

Fellow European governments have recognised the necessity of having centres of excellence and ring fencing funding.

Minister Reilly would have you believe we are in a unique position due to the receipt of social welfare payments plus our German and Irish pensions.

Care packages with other governments implemented within a 1-year timeframe of first meeting the survivors.

KEY ISSUES FOR US KEY ISSUES FOR US

To meet with Minister Reilly to discuss in depth what precisely his health care package entails

At the very least, we ask for the reinstatement of 1975 commitment and upgraded on moral grounds.

Cost of our needs should not come directly out of the HSE budgets.

Raising our pension to reflect the expenditure of necessary costs incurred by us.

NOT IN MINISTER

REILLY’S REMIT

NOT IN MINISTER

REILLY’S REMIT

CLOTHES

we have to wear them

Car adaption’s, all of us have driven all of our lives.

Spare wheelchairs and repairs of wheelchairs is extremely costly but absolutely essential to those who use one.

Personal assistants

Heating

Accessible housing adaption’s

Speedy and active response

CONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONS

Thalidomide is a manufactured/man-made

disability. We were not born with an accidental disability. Our

mothers took a drug that damaged our bodies’ thalidomide should have been removed from

the market when the dangers were widely known but it was not.

No one will take responsibility.

It is too late for liability

but it is never too late to do the

morality.

It is too late for liability

but it is never too late to do the

morality.