Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 December 2004
75 Ms Shortall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the undertaking, following the publication of the Lindsay report, to consider the possibility of initiating legal action against US drugs firms which supplied contaminated blood products to haemophiliacs here; if she has sought the legal opinion from US lawyers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31571/04]
View answerIn July 2003, the Government was approached unilaterally by a firm of New York lawyers with the proposal that the Government could sue certain pharmaceutical companies in the United States arising from the manufacture of blood products which caused hepatitis C and HIV infection to persons with haemophilia. Initial advices received from counsel appointed by the Attorney General raised serious concerns about the proposal. Following careful consideration of these advices, the Attorney General recommended that an independent opinion be obtained in the United States in respect of the proposed litigation. Advices are being sought on an urgent basis from a suitable US law firm. The Irish Haemophilia Society has been kept informed of developments.
