Hepatitis tribunal to be put on statutory basis

THE draft heads of a bill designed to put the Hepatitis C compensation tribunal on a statutory basis have been given to the Positive Action group.

The Minister for Health, Mr Noonan, handed over the document at a meeting in Dublin yesterday with representatives of Positive Action.

Positive Action represents the women infected through anti-D immunoglobulin.

Fianna Fail's spokesman on Health, Mr Brian Cowen, last night reminded Mr Noonan that the heads of a bill was a general outline and that the details of the bill could be very different.

Speaking in the Dail during an adjournment debate Mr Cowen said: "The victims of this scandal have asked that the Bill be enacted before the general election. Fianna Fail has given a commitment in the Dail that it will facilitate the Bill provided the legislation meets the demands of the victims. That commitment stands and should be availed of as a matter of urgency.

"The Government continues to display an unbelievable arrogance in this matter," he said.

"On Wednesday of last week it was highlighted to the Taoiseach in the Dail that the victims had set the deadline of today for receipt of the proposed legislation. The victims set this deadline because in the past, they have been double crossed by the Minister for Health, and the Government promises have not been honoured".

The victims were correct to set the deadlines, because that was the only reason Mr Noonan met them, Mr Cowen added.

Even with the deadline, however, Mr Noonan still did not have the final heads, but a draft that could be changed again by Government.

The Minister for Health, Mr Noonan, said the reason for an extensive consultation process was to ensure the Government's legislative proposals should encompass insofar as was legally possible the views of the representative groups.