Vol. 492 No. 4
62 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Health and Children the progress, if any, to date on the establishment of the haemophilia-HIV tribunal; the outstanding issues involved; and the proposed timescale for its establishment. [14244/98]
As the Deputy will be aware, a commitment was given to the Irish Haemophilia Society that they would be fully consulted in relation to the preparation of terms of reference for the forthcoming tribunal of inquiry.
My Department has recently concluded a series of meetings with the society in order to agree the issues which the society wish to have examined by the tribunal. A document setting out these issues together with a number of other issues, including those relevant to the health worker who contracted HIV through a blood transfusion, has been submitted to the Attorney General's Office for preparation of draft terms of reference. The society is preparing a submission on procedural matters relevant to the operation of the tribunal which they wish to have considered by the Attorney General's Office.
When the draft terms come to hand, there will be further consultations with the society and with the solicitors acting for the health worker to ensure that all the relevant issues are encompassed in the draft terms. I anticipate that I will be in a position after the summer recess to bring the terms of reference to the Dáil and Seanad by way of motion to establish the tribunal.
