Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 120: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if she intends using the Commissions of Investigation Bill 2004 to inquire into the non-notification of donors infected with the hepatitis C virus as promised following discussions with groups (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35812/05]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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The Finlay tribunal of inquiry, which reported in 1997, noted that between November 1991 and December 1993, blood donors in the Munster region, who had tested positive for hepatitis C, were not immediately notified of their test results. The tribunal acknowledged that these donors were eventually informed by the then Blood Transfusion Service Board of their diagnosis between late 1993 and February 1994 and offered appropriate counselling and support at that time.

During 2004 the board of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service commissioned an independent review of donor records in the period in question, by Dr. Bernard Kubanek, a German haematology expert. Dr. Kubanek's report was presented to the board of the IBTS in March this year and it confirmed that there was a delay in notifying 34 donors about their hepatitis C infection in the Munster region in the period in question.

Dr. Kubanek found that different criteria were used to notify donors in the Dublin and Cork centres. One of his main recommendations was that the whole process of providing safe blood components to the health system should be uniform in the IBTS and directed by one responsible person and under one quality system. He also recommended that testing of donations should be performed identically under one quality system in all locations of the IBTS. The report was also given to Positive Action and Transfusion Positive which represent persons infected by hepatitis C from blood and blood products administered within the State.

Following this there was ongoing discussion between the IBTS and the groups in relation to the report. The groups also separately met Professor Kubanek to discuss his work and the content of his report. In August this year the IBTS apologised to the groups for the pain and suffering caused to donors and their families as a consequence of not being informed about their diagnosis in a timely fashion.

Dr. Kubanek's report provided a comprehensive investigation into and analysis of donor notification practice in the period 1991 to 1994. There have been significant improvements in the IBTS in recent years, including the adoption of a single national quality assurance system and implementation of new technologies including a blood donation system with electronic recording at all donation clinics. In light of Professor Kubanek's work, I do not believe there is a need to have another investigation of this issue.