Reilly urged to explain tribunal board overhaul

Serious questions over Health Minister James Reilly’s handling of the €2.2bn Hepatitis C/HIV Compensation Tribunal have emerged following a clean-out of its members.

The Department of Health has denied party political considerations are factors in a process set to see 13 new members appointed to the 15-person board in a radical change-over poised to cost the taxpayer €130,000 in “golden hello” fees.

In another unusual move, Mr Reilly has not yet officially told many of the outgoing members their contracts were not being renewed — with four of them only learning of the fact when contacted by the Irish Examiner with details supplied by the department.