Ireland made a new two-million euro (2.6-million dollar) Thalidomide compensation offer Tuesday but victims of the long-running drug scandal were unhappy with the health ministry deal.
Health Minister Mary Harney said the decision to provide additional financial assistance and other services reflected the government's "sympathy" for the country's 32 surviving victims and their families.
The survivors' "lives have been so severely affected by this tragedy", she said.
"The government pays tribute to them. We hope that they will accept the offer of additional financial assistance," added Harney.
Thalidomide caused children to be born with physical deformities, such as the absence of arms and legs, after their mothers took the drug for morning sickness during pregnancy.
Despite the new offer, the health minister reiterated the official position that the Irish state had no legal obligation arising from neglect for the injuries suffered by Thalidomide victims.
Harney said the country's Attorney General had agreed Tuesday with this view, backing an opinion given in 1975 by his predecessor.
Campaigners claim authorities let the drug remain in shops for months after being informed it could cause birth defects.
The Irish Thalidomide Association expressed disappointment, saying the offer was too low and the government had failed to apologise.
Association secretary Finola Cassidy said when the offer was divided among the country's 32 surviving victims, it amounted to just 62,500 euros each.
"It does not address the issue of the acknowledging of the wrong," she said.
"The Irish state allowed the Thalidomide drug to remain on the market for a further seven months after it was advised that it was causing birth deformities."
She told RTE state radio that there was no apology "because seemingly the apology would admit some liability".
"Overall, we are not satisfied at all," said Cassidy.
At the moment, combining Irish payments and payments from a foundation set up by the German manufacturers of the drug, Irish Thalidomide victims receive an average 26,000 euros a year.
Copyright 2010 AFP Global Edition
