Calls for handover of blood documents

The Blood Transfusion Service and two Dublin hospitals should make an exception in their privilege rules to provide the blood tribunal with vital documents, according to Liz McManus.

Labour's health spokesperson said one issue the Irish Haemophiliac Society is particularly keen to address relates to seven particular cases.

In these cases, people were given blood products which they understood were made in Ireland but, as it transpired, were actually made abroad. Ms McManus was also critical of the failure to date of the Minister for Health to hand over departmental documents.

"These documents could play a vital part in uncovering the truth about the infection with contaminated blood products of haemophiliacs and are being sought by their representative society, IHS," said the Labour TD. She continued, "What we are now witnessing is a number of powerful institutions ganging up against the unfortunate haemophiliacs who have survived HIV and HepC infection."