Vol. 559 No. 1
297 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Health and Children the type of inquiry he now proposes into the delaying in notifying all the relevant donors of the result of hepatitis C test carried out on blood donations in the early 1990s; the role of Ministers, advisors and officials of his Department in respect of all matters in relation to this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25365/02]
298 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Health and Children if he has satisfied himself that the full circumstances of the research carried out in respect of blood donations in the early 1990s is in the public domain and the research had the appropriate approvals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25366/02]
299 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Health and Children if inquiries have been conducted by his Department on the delay by the Irish Blood Transfusion Board in notifying donors of the hepatitis C test carried out on blood donations in the early 1990s; and if he will publish the results of this enquiry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25367/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 297 to 299, inclusive, together.
The tribunal of inquiry chaired by Mr. Justice Finlay heard that, between November 1991 and December 1994, donors in the Munster region who had positive ELISA tests for antibodies to hepatitis C were not informed of their test results. One of the donors, known to the tribunal as Donor L, subsequently initiated proceedings in the High Court seeking damages arising from the delay in notifying him of his infection with hepatitis C. I have been cited as one of the respondents in that action. As part of the preparations for that action, my Department made detailed inquiries of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS). In particular, the Department sought information on the number of other donors who had been treated in a similar fashion. It also brought the matter to the attention of Transfusion Positive and Positive Action, the main support groups representing persons infected with hepatitis C, to determine what action needed to be taken to promote the interests of the donors concerned.
My Department had a number of meetings with the two groups earlier this year. In addition, I met both the groups and the IBTS about this matter. I have agreed that there will be an independent investigation of donor notification procedures in relation to positive Hepatitis C test results in the IBTS at both the Dublin and Munster centres of the IBTS. I have also agreed to a request from Positive Action for an investigation of certain issues relating to anti-D donors. I have been considering the format of the investigation and intend to make a decision on the matter in the near future.
With regard to the question in relation to research, it is intended that this will be examined as part of the forthcoming investigation and I am not in a position to comment at this stage.
