Vol. 550 No. 4
383 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children when he will enact legislation to ensure that persons with haemophilia who have been infected with HIV, and their dependants, will be compensated by a compensation tribunal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8763/02]
In December 1999 the Government decided in principle to amend the Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal Act, 1997, to allow the tribunal to award compensation to persons with haemophilia who contracted HIV through the administration of contaminated blood products. Discussions have taken place between Department officials and the Irish Haemophilia Society and their respective legal teams to discuss the society's proposals, particularly those proposals that would extend the compensation for HIV-infected haemophiliacs beyond that which is available to those infected with hepatitis C. I will meet the IHS tomorrow to discuss a number of issues, including the issue of additional compensation for persons with haemophilia infected with HIV.
