Opposition parties back inquiry into US drug firms

The main Opposition parties have said they would, if in power after the next election, establish an inquiry into the role US …

The main Opposition parties have said they would, if in power after the next election, establish an inquiry into the role US drug companies played in the infection of Irish haemophiliacs with HIV and hepatitis C.

Their pledges came a day after the Fianna Fáil/PD Government announced its decision neither to hold an inquiry nor pursue legal action against the drug companies.

Fine Gael's health spokesman Dr Liam Twomey said he would not leave haemophiliacs in limbo. He said they had been let down by various Ministers of the present Government who promised them an inquiry. "I think it's [the setting up of an inquiry] something that will have to be done. I would not close the door on litigation as quickly as Mary Harney has done," he added.

Minister for Health Mary Harney said on Wednesday that litigation would not be pursued on legal advice. The advice was that it would be unsuccessful and a waste of taxpayers' money, she said.

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Furthermore, she claimed an inquiry would not establish anything that wasn't known already.

Labour's health spokeswoman Liz McManus said her party would also be in favour of pursuing the matter further if in government. "I think the first step has got to be an inquiry," she said, adding that this could lead on to litigation. "We will do everything possible to ensure the truth comes out," she said.

"It's incredible that after so much suffering that the Irish Government has reneged on its own commitment and it's simply saying no investigation, no litigation and no information to the families who have suffered," she added.

Green Party health spokesman John Gormley said he would like to see a full inquiry into the role of the pharmaceutical companies. He said his party, if in government, would also look at every avenue open to it to pursue legal action against the drug companies. In 2003 a US law firm offered to take an action against the companies on behalf of the State on a "no foal no fee" basis.

Mr Gormley said his party would take up that offer. Ms Harney had said "issues of propriety" as well as legal issues meant the offer wasn't accepted.

Sinn Féin's health spokesman Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin confirmed his party would also support some form of investigation into the drug companies.

More than 260 haemophiliacs in the State contracted HIV and/or hepatitis C from contaminated blood clotting products, most of them imported, and 91 of them have since died.