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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 5 Oct 2000

Vol. 523 No. 3

Written Answers. - HIV Infected Haemophiliacs.

Liam Lawlor

Question:

95 Mr. Lawlor asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has satisfied himself that recent reports of a compensation package from US companies for Irish haemophiliacs infected by blood products will not compromise any compensation that may result from legislation promised for this Dáil session. [20934/00]

I have noted media reports concerning a possible settlement of the litigation involving haemophiliacs infected with HIV and a number of pharmaceutical companies. As the Deputy will appreciate, the State has no involvement in any such negotiations; HIV infected haemophiliacs settled their actions against the State in 1991 and received compensation totalling £8 million. Notwithstanding this, the Government has decided that the Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal Act, 1997, should be amended to allow persons with haemophilia to claim compensation at the tribunal in respect of their HIV infection. The objective is to enable haemophiliacs to apply for compensation on a similar basis to persons infected with Hepatitis C. Haemophiliacs who are infected with Hepatitis C or co-infected with Hepatitis C and HIV are currently entitled to compensation from the tribunal in respect of their Hepatitis C condition. It is my intention to introduce a Bill to provide for amendments to the 1997 Act during the current Dáil session.

Representatives of my Department and of the Irish Haemophilia Society have been addressing the various legal issues which arise, including the extent to which compensation received from other sources will be taken into account by the tribunal.

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