Brian Hayes (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister to the House and his comments. I wish him well in the continuation of his work.

This has been a good and full debate and the comments on all sides have reflected the enormous tragedy of this entire episode for the country, the Department and the Irish Blood Transfusion Service over the past ten years. As Senator McHugh said, while this is not a party political issue, people expect politicians to respond to the tragedy as best they can. The comment by Senator Leyden about the former leader of my party, Deputy Noonan, is absolutely accurate. Deputy Noonan has been kicked around unfairly. A considerable amount of abject party politics were played in relation to his performance as Minister. I remind the House that he put in place a compensation mechanism to begin to deal with all of the victims. I regret very much the way he has been badly tarnished by this debate. I say that as a fellow member of his party and I recognise the comments made by Senator Leyden. Deputy Noonan was unfairly made to carry the can for mistakes that were made in areas over which he really had no control. That was wrong and we should be courageous enough to say so. It should not have happened.

Probably the most important issue for the Minister or any other Minister for Health and Children is to ensure the integrity of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service. If people do not have faith in that institution, they will not give blood. It is absolutely essential in any modern health service to have in place a blood service which is beyond reproach and in which people have confidence. If we have learned anything from the events of recent years, it is that the confidence of the public has been dented. I welcome the Minister's initiative to rebuild and re-establish faith in the Irish Blood Transfusion Service in order that people will readily give blood, which can then be used in vital operations.