The Minister for Health Mr Martin is currently meeting with the Irish Haemophilia Society (IHS) to discuss a report on the role of US drug companies in the contamination of blood products which led to the infection of Irish haemophiliacs with Hepatitis C and HIV.
The report, which was commissioned by the Department of Health last year following allegations that drug firms paid high risk donors such as drug addicts and prisoners to donate blood, was presented to Cabinet yesterday.
The Minister said he will not publish the findings of the report until after this evening's meeting. An announcement on whether the Government will set up a tribunal to investigate the role of the drug companies is also expected shortly.
Ms Rosemary Daly of the IHS told ireland.com: "These companies were responsible for the majority of infections and it would be incredible to think that they would not be investigated."
Seventy nine people are known to have died as a result of the infections. The Government will use the report’s findings to decide whether or not to set up a tribunal.
The role of US pharmaceutical firms in infecting Irish haemophiliacs became apparent during the course of the Lindsay Tribunal, which was set up to investigate the State’s response to the blood scandal.
The IHS had requested the Lindsay Tribunal extend its remit to cover US-based drug companies. But the tribunal had ruled that it was beyond it terms of reference.