Those who are awarded compensation for infection with hepatitis C and HIV from infected blood products will not have the money included in means tests for social welfare payments, it has been announced.
The Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Ms Mary Coughlan, said the compensation payments from the Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal as well as those made by the courts to those who have contracted HIV through contaminated blood products will be exempted.
"Through the evidence provided to the tribunals and courts we have all come to know of the tragedy suffered by these people and I would expect that the further easing of my department's regulations will provide a significant support for people who have to claim social welfare supports," she said.
The contamination of blood products and subsequent transmission of infection to women, haemophiliacs and hospital patients was the examined by the Lindsay Tribunal.
Cases for compensation are still being heard by the Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal, set up by the government in 1997. The bill establishing the tribunal was amended last year to enable it to hear claims from those who had contracted HIV through infected blood products in the State.