Two weeks ago, I raised with the Taoiseach the issue of the 19 survivors of Dunderrow National School.

A Cheann Comhairle, week after week, the Taoiseach does not seem to be able to hear me in the Chamber. Do we need to examine the microphones?

It is the background noise. The Deputy is being interrupted. Please, go ahead.

Two weeks ago, I raised with the Taoiseach the issue of the 19 survivors of Dunderrow National School in Kinsale, who are being denied redress. I told him that the Government's strategy in these cases is "delay, delay, delay". He said, “It is not delay, delay, delay in respect of the mediation that has been sought". Lo and behold, what do we have? A delay in respect of the mediation that has been sought. The women, who have been waiting 15 years, have been told the Government needs more time to consider their request and will get back to them on 17 July, conveniently the day after the Dáil rises for the recess and less than two weeks before the end of the law term. Delaying mediation and accountability sounds a lot like "delay, delay, delay".

Will the Taoiseach give a cast-iron commitment today that details of the mediation process will be communicated to the survivors before 17 July?

Again, the Deputy has her perspective or characterisation of the communication between the State and the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, IHREC. It is not delay, delay, delay. The Government will enter into mediation and will be communicating to the legal representatives of the survivors. The fact it is the day after the Dáil rises is neither here nor there. The issue is going to be pursued.

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for welcoming to the Gallery the relatives of the Peterhead Ten, the last political prisoners released from British prisons after the War of Independence, who are here with Senator Nessa Cosgrove.

On Monday, the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste met the Irish Thalidomide Association to discuss the long-delayed State apology. The Tánaiste said that this year is the one when we bring some degree of closure to people who have been treated so badly, and indeed thalidomide survivors have been treated so badly by the State. There are just 40 survivors in Ireland and, as I have said before, all this group is asking for is a State apology, recognition, statutory supports and a fair compensation scheme for this small cohort of people.

I again ask the Taoiseach for an apology. Justice for thalidomide survivors is long overdue. Britain made an apology more than 15 years ago. Can we say thalidomide survivors will finally see justice this year?

First, that is not all that is being asked for. We had a good meeting earlier in the week. I am as frustrated as anybody with the inability to get these issues resolved. I articulated that, as did the Tánaiste, at the meeting. I believe these issues can be progressed. The enhanced supports are there and are being availed of by survivors. They are significant. I believe that at the meeting earlier this week, particularly in terms of the unacknowledged, we agreed a process to try to get that resolved once and for all. I do not want to go into any further details at this stage because we have agreed a process. It is our objective and our desire to get these issues resolved as quickly as possible.