Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 October 2016
60. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Health if he will, under the Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal Act 1997, make available the measures provided for the majority who have tested positive, to the small number of women who received blood products from contaminated batches of anti-D in the 1977-1979 and 1991-1994 periods but who are testing negative while experiencing severe health problems consistent with testing positive. [30503/16]
View answerI understand that a group of women who received infectious, or potentially infectious, Anti-D Immunoglobulin in two periods (between 1977 and 1979 and between 1991 and 1994) and who tested negative for Hepatitis C are seeking access to claim compensation from the Hepatitis C and HIV Compensation Tribunal and to be awarded HAA cards.
The Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Act 2006 restricts access to the Tribunal to those people who have been diagnosed with Hepatitis C or HIV, and provides clear scientific grounds for the definition of “diagnosed positive for Hepatitis C”. Under this legislation a diagnosis must arise (a) from a positive result from one of three specific tests for the presence of Hepatitis C virus, or (b) from the presence of antibodies to the virus, or (c) based on evidence of jaundice up to 16 weeks after the administration of Anti-D Immunoglobulin. I am satisfied that no new scientific evidence has emerged in this regard.
It is estimated that up to 16,000 women in Ireland were exposed to potentially infectious batches of Anti-D. Approximately 1,000 of these women were infected with Hepatitis C and were therefore eligible to apply to the Tribunal for compensation.
