Fine Gael's health spokesman Mr Alan Shatter said manslaughter charges should be brought against those responsible for the death of the late Mrs Brigid McCole.

"I do not believe that we should simply wring our hands with regard to the hepatitis C scandal and at this stage accept that no prosecution can be brought," he said in the Dail.

He wanted the Minister to clarify whether the Garda investigation had looked at the possibility of bringing criminal charges for manslaughter as a consequence of the death of Mrs Brigid McCole.

If the investigation did not do so it should be re-opened to look at this and allow the DPP to make a further determination as to whether a prosecution for manslaughter could be brought.

Mr Shatter added that on October 6th the DPP told the Minister for Health, Mr Cowen, that he did not propose to initiate prosecutions as a result of the Blood Transfusion Service Board scandal.

"The Minister should tell the House why he had withheld this information from the public for a fortnight," said Mr Shatter. "He should also explain what he had been doing in Longfield House just over a week ago having dinner with Mr Fintan Drury, the public relations adviser to the BTSB."

Meanwhile, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, has asked the Department of Justice to review the legislation relating to the prosecution of public officials following the decision by the Director of Public Prosecutions not to press charges in the hepatitis C scandal.

"The Government accepts that there is a need to look at the law in this area and we will do so," Mr Ahern said. The Taoiseach said there had been a suggestion that the review could be included in the work of the Law Reform Commission and he was checking if that could be done.