Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)

On behalf of the Green Party, my colleague, Deputy Gormley, has met with the women and with a number of groups dealing with the situation in regard to haemophilia, including the Irish Haemophilia Society. The Government should take the opportunity today to reflect on the unwise way in which it is approaching this issue, given that it has been in discussions for nine years but has received clear information stating that there will be a number of people, whether it be 40 on a database or 100, who will certainly be effectively discriminated against because of the proposed legislation.

Given that we are under pressure in terms of legislation in many areas I urge the Government not to proceed with the Bill and to go back to the original understanding that this would be stand-alone legislation dealing with the medical care and insurance issues, not a Bill to set up a compensation tribunal. As the Tánaiste is also Minister for Health and Children, I ask her to reflect on what is being said by all parties, as it is being put to us clearly by the women involved that this is a retrograde step and——

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