The organisation representing Thalidomide survivors is optimistic progress is being made towards a State apology but said “speed is of the essence” given the age of surviving mothers and health issues for survivors.

It comes after the Irish Thalidomide Association (ITA) met Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris at Government Buildings on Wednesday.

The Government has previously committed to a State apology and ITA spokeswoman Finola Cassidy said the organisation’s latest meeting with Martin and Harris was “very positive”.

There are about 40 Thalidomide survivors in Ireland.

Thalidomide was developed in Germany in the 1950s as a sedative or tranquilliser but was later widely promoted as a drug to treat morning sickness during pregnancy.

It was withdrawn from most markets in 1961 following widespread evidence of its link to birth defects, but was still sold in Ireland until 1964.

Many children were born without limbs or with shortened limbs, with hearing and vision impairment and injuries to internal organs.

In September 2024, the Government appointed retired High Court judge Justice Paul Gilligan to engage with Thalidomide survivors in what is known as the Thalidomide resolution process.

At one point the process reached an impasse and there is an issue around 12 “unacknowledged” Thalidomide survivors whose mothers took the drug after it had been officially withdrawn.

The ITA wants a State apology, recognition of the unacknowledged survivors, statutory supports and a fair compensation scheme to be introduced.

Speaking after Wednesday’s meeting, Cassidy expressed her belief that an agreement on all of these issues is also a priority for Government.

She told The Irish Times that the timeline for a resolution to the issues involved is not yet set but “both sides are working extremely hard on it” and “we think that the apology will happen.”

“Speed is of the essence because sadly some of our mothers are well into their 90s and some of our own survivors are not well,” she said.

A Government statement said the Taoiseach and Tánaiste had a “positive meeting” with the ITA and “Both sides agreed that there should be further work to progress specific issues discussed.”