Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)

Yes. Nobody has contended since then that it was not the basis on which a health card should be given. The affected group, which was upset at the time that it did not get the health card, will now get the card because I think it is fair that it should. We are bringing clarity and consistency to this area. The same principles will apply to compensation, insurance and the health card.

The members of the expert group, including liver consultants, a representative of Positive Action and the Chief Medical Officer who chaired the group, believed that the health benefits should be bestowed only on those who tested positive under the ELISA test. Therefore, I cannot understand why we should use another method when making decisions on compensation. I do not believe that a woman who developed jaundice after giving birth and having a blood transfusion would not have done something about it. The likelihood that a woman who just had a baby would not seek medical attention in such circumstances is quite small.