John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 119: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if a medical card will be approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny, as a matter of urgency in view of the medical circumstances involved and their need for on going health care. [1914/11]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 120: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if a medical card will be issued as a matter of urgency to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; if the card can be dated from November 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1919/11]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 121: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her response to positive action regarding an undertaking given in 2008 to grant the Health (Amendment) Act card to a small group represented by them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1955/11]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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The entitlement of an individual to a Health Amendment (HAA) Card and services under the Health (Amendment) Act, l996 now rests with the Chief Executive Officer of the Health Service Executive (HSE). The Chief Executive Officer is bound by the definition of eligibility inserted in the Health (Amendment) Act 2006 by section 6 of the Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Act 2006, which requires a positive diagnostic test for applications received after the specified date of 20th June 2006.

In respect of persons who made an application before that date, the Chief Executive Officer is still obliged to satisfy himself that the applicant was infected with Hepatitis C. In that regard, I have asked the HSE to take account of any relevant decision of the Hepatitis C & HIV Compensation Tribunal on the basis that the Tribunal arrives at its decisions after careful consideration of expert testimony.

I have given a great deal of consideration to the issue of women who have neither a positive test result nor a positive Tribunal decision in their favour and I am very sympathetic to the women in question. While this cohort of women who have tested negative for Hepatitis C has had, and may continue to have, a variety of symptoms, there is no scientific proof that the symptoms are specific evidence of Hepatitis C infection. Some symptoms of Hepatitis C, such as fatigue, fibromyalgia and depression are common conditions that occur in the general population. It is estimated that up to16,000 women were exposed to potentially infectious batches of Anti-D and approximately 1,000 of these people were infected with Hepatitis C. I have to take into account the rationale which led to the clarification of eligibility requirements in 2006 and accordingly, I do not envisage a change in the current eligibility requirements.

I should point out that the women in question are entitled to apply for a regular medical card. Application forms for a medical card are available from the HSE's local health offices. The HSE has discretion to award a regular medical card to a person whose income is over the financial guidelines, where the HSE decides that the financial burden of medical or other exceptional circumstances would cause undue hardship.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 122: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if an application for a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny will be reviewed based on medical circumstance and if a full medical card will be issued [1957/11]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 123: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if an application for a medical card which was refused will be assessed and approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny and if she will expedite the matter [1958/11]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 124: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if a medical card will be approved on appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; the reason the card was granted and then withdrawn after a short period and if she will expedite a response [1959/11]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Independent)
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As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.