Justice to present tribunal proposal

A BLUEPRINT for a new type of statutory inquiry will be presented to the Cabinet for approval by Justice Minister, Michael McDowell.

Mr McDowell said the current tribunal structure is too costly and adversarial.

He said there is a need for another investigative format to reduce time and cost.

It is understood the Cabinet will consider Mr McDowell’s proposals for a new inquiry format in the next week or two.

Health Minister Micheál Martin is still considering how best to investigate the role played by international drug firms in the blood contamination scandal.

Mr McDowell has already expressed scepticism about having such an inquiry.

He has warned the costs involved could be huge.

Mr Martin has agreed to meet the Irish Haemophilia Society on December 17 next.

That meeting is just before he presents to the Dáil what he described as an “inquiry template.”

Mr McDowell said the State must be sure it has a good chance of winning if it engages in a multi-million euro lawsuit with the US-based drug firms.

Senior counsel Paul Gardiner has investigated the possibility of holding a State inquiry into the role of the drug firms.

Mr McDowell said he saw Mr Gardiner’s report when he was Attorney General.

He said it raised questions about whether there was room for another tribunal-type approach.

On RTÉ yesterday Mr McDowell said he would like to know more about the drug companies’ involvement in the blood contamination crisis.