The name Jane O'Brien is known in almost every household in the State. She is the public face of the hundreds of women infected with hepatitis C through anti-D. Her dogged persistence led to the establishment of a tribunal of inquiry into the hepatitis C scandal and of a statutory compensation tribunal, entitling those infected to the payment of aggravated damages.
Three health ministers, including the incumbent, would likely attest to her tough, nononsense approach. As a journalist with the Kildare Nationalist, she is also aware of how the media operates and has great political nous - knowing the importance of good timing.
The women who are infected speak of her commitment on their behalf and her empathy. One woman with hepatitis C, who wrote to the organisers of the People of the Year awards, spoke of her gratitude. "Jane O'Brien means such a lot to me and my family. She's caring and considerate and she has helped us cope with and understand hepatitis C. She pulled me from the depths of despair," she wrote.
In her citation it states that it is widely accepted that without Jane there would be no Positive Action. "Idealism, commitment and dogged persistence led her to take on the political, medical and legal systems on behalf of women affected through no fault of their own by anti-D. Individual women felt helpless and alone. Jane channelled their anger and empowered them."