Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Health the justification for paying a €10,000 appointment fee to legal persons who serve on the Hepatitis C / HIV Compensation Tribunal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49817/12]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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Under Section 3 of the Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal Act l997, the Minister for Health appoints the members of the Hepatitis C and HIV Compensation Tribunal. The term of office of each of the fourteen members and the Chairperson of the Tribunal "shall be for a period as is specified by the Minister when appointing such member".

Ministerial appointments are made on the advice of the Attorney General. The briefing fee, payable on a once-off basis when new members take up their respective appointments, is €10,000. This was reduced from €17,526 in June, 2012. The remuneration for members is approved by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

The Tribunal carries out judicial type functions and is therefore very different to a typical State Board. It hears claims in relation to persons infected with Hepatitis C or HIV through the administration within the State of infected blood or blood products. Claims are dealt with by the Tribunal by way of an in camera oral hearing before two members of the Tribunal and the Chairperson. The Tribunal was set up in order that claimants could have their cases heard in a confidential, person centred, fashion. The brief fee reflects the considerable work that each new member must undertake to familiarise themselves with the Tribunal process, the outcome of previous Tribunal hearings and precedents set to ensure a level of consistency among claims heard.