Limerick East): The Compensation Tribunal received approximately 1,600 applications from its establishment on 15 December 1995 to 17 June 1996, the closing date for receipt of applications. The tribunal is currently examining the applications and dividing them into two categories; recipients of anti-D and others.
Clause 19 of the tribunal scheme provides:
Claimants must apply to the Tribunal within six months of the date upon which they first become aware of the fact that they have been diagnosed positive for hepatitis C antibodies or hepatitis C virus or of the date of the establishment of the Tribunal, which ever date is the later. In exceptional cases the Tribunal may in its absolute discretion extend the time limit fixed by this clause, and shall do so in the case of any claimant whom it is satisfied was under a legal disability by reason of minority or unsoundness of mind at the time at which such claim should otherwise have been made and who applies to it within six months of the cesser of that legal disability.
