THE June 17th closing date for applications for compensation to the hepatitis C tribunal for victims of anti D treatment should be extended until after the outcome of the first High Court hearing, Positive Action said.
The first case taken by an anti D mother is listed for hearing in the High Court on October 8th.
Positive Actio the group campaigning for the victims, said Government politicians, who had privately given their support to anti D mothers infected with hepatitis C were being called in to show this publicly in a Dail vote on the matter tomorrow.
The chairwoman of Positive Action, Ms Jane O'Brien, said it would be strongly represented in the Dail to see if the words of support were translated into votes for the Fianna Fail motion for an extension.
The group criticised the Minister for Health, Mr Noonan, for persisting in his "rigid approach" and not extending the date or amending the tribunal scheme, which it felt was "flawed and unfair".
It condemned the Minister for forcing women to make a decision by June 17th on the tribunal in advance of knowing the truth "about how this tragic contamination occurred."
A total of 980 women have been infected with hepatitis C through the contaminated blood product, anti D, which was made by the Blood Transfusion Service Board between 1970 and 1994.