If accurate information had been given to the former health minister, Dr Rory O'Hanlon, in the late 1980s in relation to the cause of HIV infections among haemophiliacs, the government of the day might not have collapsed, the tribunal was told.
Dr O'Hanlon said the government's decision to offer just £50,000 to infected haemophiliacs for counselling when they were seeking much more in 1989 was based on inaccurate information.
The decision made by him at a time when haemophiliacs were dying of AIDS was flawed, he agreed, because he was unaware at the time that any of the infections had been caused by Irish-made blood products.
This was very regrettable for haemophiliacs, but was also very damaging politically, he said.
Dr O'Hanlon, who was minister from March 1987 to November 1991, told the Dail in 1989 that Ireland had not had a case of HIV or AIDS related to an Irish blood donation.
This was not the case, as an infected donation collected by the BTSB was used to make Factor 9 concentrate which infected seven haemophiliacs in the State with HIV, five of whom have died.
"I think it's particularly regrettable I did not have this information at that particular time. I take a very serious view of that," he said.
He added that it was only last week he became aware he had given wrong information to the Dail and he would now seek leave of the Ceann Comhairle to correct the record, he said.
The wrong information had influenced the government's strategy on a private member's motion seeking the establishment of a £400,000-ayear trust fund for infected haemophiliacs. The success of the Labour motion led to a decision by the Taoiseach, Mr Charles Haughey, to call a general election.
Counsel for the tribunal, Mr Gerard Durcan SC, put it to Dr O'Hanlon that there might never have been an election if correct information had been presented to him.
The former minister agreed, saying the government might have continued in office for a further two years.
As it transpired, the minority Fianna Fail government was replaced by a Fianna Fail-PD coalition, and Dr O'Hanlon was again appointed minister for health.
In the programme for government it was agreed to establish a £1 million trust fund for haemophiliacs, and a further £7 million was later approved in compensation for those infected.