Vol. 475 No. 5
94 Mr. Cowen asked the Minister for Health when he expects to receive the report of the judicial inquiry into hepatitis C; the way in which he intends to proceed once he has received the report; when it will be published once he has received it from the chairman of the tribunal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5263/97]
Limerick East): I published the interim report of the tribunal of inquiry on 8 January 1997. In the interim report, the chairman of the tribunal stated that following the conclusion of oral hearings a period of three weeks may suffice for the final preparation of the report.
The tribunal of inquiry concluded its hearings on 4 February 1997 and I expect that the report will be submitted to me shortly. After I receive the report it is my intention to present it to Government and arrange for its publication and presentation to both Houses of the Oireachtas at the earliest possible date.
