Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 25 Jul 1996

Vol. 468 No. 4

Written Answers. - Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal.

Máire Geoghegan-Quinn

Question:

174 Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn asked the Minister for Health whether any applications from overseas have been made for compensation from the hepatitis C tribunal; if so, the countries from which applications have been received; if not, if such applications are anticipated; the efforts, if any, that have been made to notify potential applicants of the compensation and healthcare arrangements; if so, the way in which these efforts were made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15399/96]

Máire Geoghegan-Quinn

Question:

175 Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn asked the Minister for Health the plans, if any, he has to provide for postponements of hepatitis C compensation hearings until after the outcome of the first court case on the matter. [15400/96]

Máire Geoghegan-Quinn

Question:

176 Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn asked the Minister for Health the number of applications currently received by the hepatitis C compensation tribunal; the applications, if any, that were made after the closing date for applications; and the applications, if any, that have been rejected to date. [15401/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 174, 175 and 176 together.

The scheme to compensate certain persons who have contracted hepatitis C from the use of blood or blood products provides that the Minister for Health, if he considers it appropriate, may amend the scheme, but no such amendment shall operate to remove, restrict or diminish in any way rights or benefits confered on persons entitled to claim under the scheme in its unamended form. If in the future I have evidence and I am convinced that the workings of the tribunal are not serving the very best interests of the claimants, or if in my opinion such amendment would improve the scheme. I will use my powers under the scheme to ensure that the tribunal is at all times meeting the needs of persons infected with hepatitis C. I have been informed by the tribunal that no applicant will be compelled to have his-her case heard without agreement to the date fixed by the tribunal for the hearing.

The compensation tribunal has received 1,620 applications. In accordance with the tribunal scheme, claimants must apply 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 within six months 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 and shall do so in the case of any claimant who it is satisfied was under 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. Six applications were received after 17 June 1996, six months from the date of the establishment of the tribunal, and none have been rejected.

The numbers of applications from various countries overseas are set out beneath:

Table 1: Applications from Overseas to the Compensation Tribunal.

Country of Residence	Number of Applications
United Kingdom (excluding 5 from Northern Ireland)	12
United States of America	6
Australia	2
France	1

At all times I have been concerned that persons who have contracted hepatitis C from the use of blood products and-or blood transfusions should be informed of the existence of the compensation tribunal and through the Blood Transfusion Service Board, I wrote to such persons who had been identified through the various testing programmes of the board with information on the tribunal and the health care arrangements which have been put in place. The Deputy will be aware that the arrangements for health care apply within the Irish jurisdiction only. It is open to tribunal applicants resident abroad, who cannot avail of the special health care arrangements in Ireland, to claim compensation from the tribunal for the cost of health care delivered outside of this country.

Máire Geoghegan-Quinn

Question:

177 Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn asked the Minister for Health the amount of money paid to a person (details supplied) who acted as an independent assessor on the drug treatment services provided by the Eastern Health Board, further to his reply to Parliamentary Question No. 113 of 2 July 1996. [15402/96]

Minister for Health (Mr. Noonan,

Limerick East): The evaluation referred to by the Deputy was carried out for the Eastern Health Board by two independent assessors who were contracted to do so by the board. The amount of fees paid to the assessors in respect of this work is a matter between the Eastern Health Board and the assessors.