Michael Finneran (Longford-Roscommon, Fianna Fail)

I compliment the Government, in particular the Minister, Deputy Harney, on bringing forward this necessary Bill to deal with an important outstanding matter regarding insurance protection and the Government's response to the hepatitis C scandal which destroyed thousands of lives. A scheme of compensation is in place to help those affected and their families, but monetary compensation is nothing when compared to the loss of quality of life of people and their families in this great scandal that will affect our country for years to come. Some €660 million has been given out in compensation. So what? It is just to help people along. The medical card back-up is costing €15 million and this Bill will deal with the insurance aspect, which is necessary because insurance companies were prepared to treat those involved like lepers and not give them adequate insurance cover for life, mortgage or travel policies.

A sad situation had developed with regard to the people concerned and I am pleased the Minister has come forward with a Bill to deal with the matter. Consultations have taken place with the different associations and groups involved. I hope it will bring some further comfort to these unfortunate individuals who are the victims of a lifestyle imposed by the State by the provision of inappropriate products that caused terrible health damage to those who received them.

I am not sure exactly how the scheme will work but I take from the Minister's contribution that it has been set down in a certain way following consultations. I have had correspondence from the Irish Haemophilia Society raising concerns to which I feel duty bound to refer. I hope the Minister will discuss these concerns with the officials of the Department and will make contact with the society to find whether the difficulties can be ironed out.

We must be accommodating with regard to those affected by this scandal. We should not in any way create barriers to proper compensation, health care or insurance, which is provided for in the Bill. The Minister and the Government certainly do not want that to happen. If difficulties cannot be clarified, let us try to tease them out on Committee and Report Stages. Nobody in the House, including those on the Government side, wants to place further burdens on the victims of hepatitis C, and HIV in some cases. As Members of the Oireachtas, we have a duty to ensure the best possible health protection is afforded to the unfortunate people in question.

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