Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 218: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the reason the medical records of patients in the Cork area dating from 1950 to the late 1970s were destroyed; the number of records that were destroyed; the difficulties that this has created for people such as those affected by the hepatitis C case in accessing information; if there is a method currently in place to electronically store records to avoid a similar destruction in the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41993/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Operational responsibility for the management and delivery of health and personal social services was assigned to the Health Service Executive under the Health Act, 2004. Therefore the Executive is the appropriate body to consider the particular matter raised by the Deputy. My Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have the matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy. I might add that the Hepatitis C and HIV Compensation Tribunal has made awards to approximately 2,000 people in relation to infection with Hepatitis C/HIV through the administration within the State of blood and blood products. The non-availability of records has not prevented the Tribunal from making determinations in relevant cases.