Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 188: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the position regarding the Government's undertaking, following the publication of the Lindsay report, to consider the possibility on initiating legal action against US drugs firms who supplied contaminated blood products to Irish haemophiliacs; if he has sought the promised legal opinion from US lawyers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4285/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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In July 2003 the Government was approached unilaterally by a firm of New York lawyers with the proposal that the Government could sue certain pharmaceutical companies in the United States arising from the manufacture of blood products which caused hepatitis C and HIV infection to persons with haemophilia.

Initial advices received from counsel appointed by the Attorney General raised serious concerns in relation to the proposal. Following careful consideration of these advices, the Attorney General recommended that an independent opinion be obtained in the United States in respect of the proposed litigation. Arrangements to procure such advice are ongoing.