Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 21 May 1996

Vol. 465 No. 6

Written Answers. - Hepatitis C Documentation.

Máire Geoghegan-Quinn

Question:

122 Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn asked the Minister for Health whether members of the expert group that was established to investigate the Blood Transfusion Service Board requested all documents and papers, including files, relating to the hepatitis C scandal; whether all such documentation was made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10388/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): On March 4 1994 the then Minister for Health established an expert group with the following terms of reference:—

I To examine and report to the Minister for Health on the following matters:

(a) All the circumstances surrounding the infection of the Anti-D Immunoglobulin product manufactured by the Blood Transfusion Service Board;

(b) The systems and standards in place for donor selection, the manufacturing process and use of the Anti-D Immunoglobulin produced by the Blood Transfusion Service Board.

II To make recommendations to the Minister for Health on the above matters and any other matters relating to the Blood Transfusion Service Board which the group consider necessary.

The expert group on the BTSB carried out its work by meeting relevant individuals and groups and by requesting relevant documentation. It requested meetings with interested parties and, in a small number of instances, individuals approached the group for a meeting. In addition, it wrote on a number of occasions to the then Chief Medical Consultant and the then Chief executive Officer of the BTSB for information on specific issues. Where additional queries arose, the group invited individuals for further discussions. The expert group did not seek each and every document in the BTSB.

The expert group held its meetings and examined documentation between March, 1994 and early January, 1995.

The report of the expert group was published by the Government on 5 April 1995.