Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)

I suppose five minutes should be enough time to speak on this issue given that so many people have spoken about it. I am not qualified to add anything new to this debate because I am new to the Dáil. I am not being facetious when I say that the first time I really became aware of the continuing fallout of the hepatitis C scandal was when I participated in the filming of the television programme, "No Tears", in 2001. On 11 September 2001, the day on which two airplanes crashed into the World Trade Centre in New York, I played the role of a backbencher in a scene set in the Dáil. I subsequently watched the programme and became more aware of the issues.

The programme possibly overdramatised the issue in terms of the individuals portrayed in it. However, if one looks at the effect of the affair on countless families since the mid-1970s and the fact that the matter has not been resolved, it is clear there are issues to be addressed. My colleague, Deputy Gormley, asked a question which the Minister was unable to answer as she was not in the House. He spoke about Ministers who had the courage to stand up to departmental officials and how a good and courageous Minister would stand up to these officials and recognise that the wording of this Bill is deeply unjust. I hope the Minister amends this legislation on Committee or remaining Stages to take account of the views expressed, although such a course of action may not make certain officials within her Department happy.

I cannot speak for too long because of my very limited knowledge of the background to this legislation. However, having looked through the legislation, I believe it is premature to bring forward measures that exclude certain groups when they were not properly consulted with. I welcome the Minister of State's confirmation that anyone who applied for compensation before 20 June 2006 will not be affected. This assurance offers some small comfort to people. The Bill amends the 1997 Act and will, as others have noted, limit the categories of people who can apply for compensation.

We need more time to debate this issue and if this means postponing this legislation until the autumn to allow groups like Positive Action, the Irish Kidney Association and Transfusion Positive to consult with the Department, so be it. It is not beyond the realms of possibility that if the Minister proposed to remove the guillotine on this legislation and postpone it until the autumn, some measures could be implemented which would seek to serve these groups and their concerns. There has been broad support throughout this House for the general provisions in the Bill relating to insurance. However, this is not a stand-alone Bill which simply helps those who cannot access insurance. It is now a Bill which excludes certain people represented by organisations which were informed of a decision without having the chance to have a proper input into this decision.

It reminds me of the situations pertaining to nursing homes and survivors of abuse in institutions, where the Government for penny-pinching rather than compassionate reasons rushes through legislation. I ask the Minister to think very carefully about this issue. Hopefully, the Government will introduce amendments to this Bill which will remedy some of its negative aspects. I look forward to such amendments.

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