Speedy and active response presentation
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The document discusses the history and commitments made by the Irish government to provide support for Thalidomide survivors. In 1975, the Irish Minister for Health promised essential services and monetary provisions indexed to inflation to help Thalidomide survivors lead normal lives. However, the government did not fully deliver on this commitment. While other European governments have stepped up support for Thalidomide survivors despite also claiming no legal obligation, Ireland has not met its moral obligation to survivors. The document calls on the Minister for Health to discuss reinstating the 1975 commitment and upgrading support for Thalidomide survivors' long-term healthcare, housing adaptations, personal assistance and other needs.
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- 3. 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
- 4. 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 "
- 5. 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
- 6. The reality, government did not deliver on their commitment of “good faith”.
- 7. We are perfectly justified not to rush in and accept an undertaking based on good faith.
- 8. We do not accept that it is not possible to provide a guarantee without liability.
- 9. KEY POINTS OF 1975 AGREEMENT KEY POINTS OF 1975 AGREEMENT
- 10. Above objectives would meet pace over time
- 11. The commitment embodied in the 1975 agreement regardless of legal status should meet the solemn commitment expressed
- 12. 1975 monetary provision received by us was index- linked. (Now it is solely tied into increases in social welfare)
- 13. REFERENCE TO OTHER MEMBER STATES REFERENCE TO OTHER MEMBER STATES
- 14. The British, Swedish, German, Finnish and Italian governments have morally stepped up to the plate.
- 15. Said governments have also claimed no legal obligation to thalidomide survivors.
- 16. Fellow European governments have recognised the necessity of having centres of excellence and ring fencing funding.
- 17. 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.
- 18. Care packages with other governments implemented within a 1-year timeframe of first meeting the survivors.
- 19. KEY ISSUES FOR USKEY ISSUES FOR US
- 20. To meet with Minister Reilly to discuss in depth what precisely his health care package entails
- 21. At the very least, we ask for the reinstatement of 1975 commitment and upgraded on moral grounds.
- 22. Cost of our needs should not come directly out of the HSE budgets.
- 23. Raising our pension to reflect the expenditure of necessary costs incurred by us.
- 24. NOT IN MINISTER REILLY’S REMIT NOT IN MINISTER REILLY’S REMIT
- 25. CLOTHES we have to wear them
- 26. Car adaption’s, all of us have driven all of our lives.
- 27. Spare wheelchairs and repairs of wheelchairs is extremely costly but absolutely essential to those who use one.
- 29. Heating
- 33. 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.
- 34. 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.
Editor's Notes
- We do not accept that it is not possible to provide a guarantee without liability . We do not accept that it is not possible to provide a guarantee without liability. It was predominantly on this basis it was not possible to move forward with the care plan. However, despite this we agreed to meet with a number of Minister Reilly’s officials to try to put together a care plan. most important aspects the Care plan was not in the remit of Minister Reilly The most important aspects the Care plan was not in the remit of Minister Reilly. However, despite this we agreed to meet with Minister Reilly and a number of his officials to try to discuss a care plan. From the outset of this meeting, there were problems, concerning the Care plan. As the problem with remit applied also to his officials. For example, bathroom and bedroom adaptations. Car adaption’s, adaptations for clothing, personal assistance and helping tools. In essence, Minister Reilly's remit covered only home help, wheelchairs crutches cushions and medical care if you are sick which over 80% of survivors are not. Minister Reilly Publicly repeated the importance of social care, within his health care package , which is by definition enabling or empowering an individual to be part of society, which includes, personal assistance Salary, transport as a way to get out and about, clothing because of our unique body shapes and it is essential to wear them. For most, it is not possible to buy clothes without adaption and of course finally yet importantly home adaption, which is self-explanatory. Financial aspects of the package. Regarding the financial aspects of the package. While Minister Reilly was busy quoting to the press how willing he was to give an ex-gratia payment, he was even busier telling us, he was not willing to discuss the financial side of the package. Furthermore, he was not even sure if it was possible to give any type of payment due to the current financial circumstances. Pension payments need to reflect the expenditure of necessary costs incurred by us. Other European countries like Great Britain, Germany, Italy and Sweden, have recognised the necessity for these things and acted financially on these issues.
- To meet with Minister Reilly to discuss in depth what precisely his health care package entails Apart from an medical assessment it is really not clear by any stretch of the imagination as to what exactly Minister Reilly is offering therefore how can we accept. Care package guaranteed As good faith simply doesn't, cut it. We feel it is very important at this point to emphasise we have not and do not intend to involve ourselves in any form of legal crusade. In 1989, we looked into this possibility in great depth. We were quite clearly informed by a barrister that we were one year outside of the statute barred and legal action would not be impossible. This is why the Irish thalidomide survivor’s society has chosen to deal with the government on a moral basis. There are 15 thalidomide survivors. Not involved with the organisation’s that has issued legal proceedings. The British Swedish, German and Italian governments have morally stepped up to the plate and taken care of the survivors within their countries. They too have claimed no legal obligation to thalidomide survivors. However, they have still provided substantially so the survivors in their countries can live out the remainder of their lives in peace. What is wrong with Ireland? 1975 commitment and agreement to be reinstated and Upgraded . We feel at the very least Minister Riley should ensure that we receive the 1975 Care package awarded to our parents based on Brendan Corish’s statement and moral grounds. Minister Corish” The government has been concerned to see that the children are provided with monetary provision in the form of a index linked pension, services and aids necessitated by their disabilities in order for them to lead as normal a life as possible”. Raising our pension to reflect the expenditure of necessary costs incurred by us. Once again, It is recognised throughout Europe by fellow governments, of the necessity to have survivors pensions reflecting the expenditure of necessary costs incurred. For instance, Clothes, heating, car adaptations and most importantly personal assistant salary, Spare wheelchairs and repairs of wheelchairs as the HSE only allows for one. A repair on a power chair can run as high as €1100 or €1200 for just one part. Speedy and active response It has taken from start to finish one year in each of the above-mentioned countries for governments to help their survivors. It has taken six years of added suffering and Minister Riley is still saying word games and leaving us to suffer more
- HSE Cost of our needs should not come directly out of the HSE budgets. It is, recognised throughout Europe by fellow governments; the necessity to have a centre of excellence and ring fenced funding. It Is, recognised throughout Europe by fellow governments, the necessity to have a centre of excellence and ring fenced funding for things like making a home accessible and adapting a car. Some of the items we require do not come under the auspices of the HSE. At this point would be important to add out of 32 of us there would only be approximately 3 to 4 persons requiring either of these facilities. We are not asking for our homes to be decorated and extended we are asking to live in them functionally. This was the Commitment embodied in the agreement
- Thalidomide survivors have been poked and prodded. Paraded naked on tables like rats in a laboratory, to further the education and satisfy the curiosity of doctors. We have been fitted with prosthetics we did not want and where to young to fight back and have a choice. We spent major chunks of our childhood in hospitals when we should have been getting an education and playing with other children. Nobody has ever said sorry or thank you for saving the lives of the children that came after us. We will always have to live with the knowledge that no one ever will because thalidomide is a dirty word that conjures up fear. Despite this, we have chosen to get up every morning and to survivor the best we can with what we have. Moreo-ver, despite all the obstacles, most of us have Tried to get on with our life. What we need to now is peace And the facilities To live the remainder of our lives With As little pain as possible. It is too late for liability but it is never too late to do the morally right thing. Thalidomide is a manufactured/man-made disability we have done nothing wrong but because we looked like moving pounds signs and justice scales nobody will help us