Thalidomide survivors must have access to all relevant State documentation relating to the drug which caused numerous birth defects in the 1960s.
This is the view of Green senator Niall Ó Brolcháin, who is supporting calls by the Irish Thalidomide Association to release all associated documents from the 1960s onwards.
Thalidomide was a prescriptive drug which was marketed, distributed, and sold in the State for use by pregnant mothers to combat morning sickness. However it is now known that the drug led to many mothers giving birth to babies with deformities.
“Full information must be given to the Irish Thalidomide Association,” said Sen Ó Brolcháin. “The Green Party is fully behind transparency of information and the survivors of thalidomide have a right to this information.”
Sen Ó Brolcháin has asked the Minister for Health Mary Harney to support the ITA’s request and she recently said she would like all documentation released. “I am calling on the Minister,” he said, “to take every possible step to ensure that this occurs
