Máire Geoghegan-Quinn
Question:54 Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn asked the Minister for Health if he is considering the appointment of any further personnel to the hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal. [13696/96]
Written Answers. - Compensation Tribunal.
Limerick East): I am not at present considering the appointment of additional personnel to the tribunal to compensate certain persons who have contracted hepatitis C from the use of human immunoglobulin — Anti-D, whole blood or other blood products.
Máire Geoghegan-Quinn
Question:55 Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of hepatitis C victims at the standard of proof required by the hepatitis C tribunal in relation to meeting the balance of probability requirements set out in the scheme of compensation; the way in which the tribunal is dealing with this issue; the difficulties, if any, that have been encountered by victims before the tribunal in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13697/96].
Máire Geoghegan-Quinn
Question:56 Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn asked the Minister for Health if notice has been issued by the hepatitis C tribunal to victimes warning them that no case will be heard unless a full application is made; if victims who are unable to file full applications due to missing records will be affected by this notice from the tribunal; if cases will be heard before the tribunal without the full records being available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13698/96]
Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 56 together.
I have been informed by the tribunal that no notice of the type referred to in the question has been issued by the tribunal. I have also been informed by the tribunal that of the 85 cases heard to date, no case has failed on the issue of causation/probability. The tribunal has indicated that it has made awards in claims where the claimant has received a blood product but was not in a position to match the blood given to a particular batch supplied by the Blood Transfusion Service Board. The tribunal has also advised that medical reports submitted to the tribunal should, in cases of doubt, deal with the exclusion of other possible causes for the contracting of the hepatitis C condition.