O'Hanlon took decision to give £50,000 to haemophiliacs

Former Health Minister Dr Rory O'Hanlon has told the Lindsay Tribunal the decision to give the Irish Haemophilia Society £50,000 as compensation for haemophiliacs who had contracted HIV from contaminated blood products lay ultimately with him.

However, he added that he felt he was acting on flawed information given to him at the time.

The tribunal heard that the IHS approached the Department in February 1989 seeking £1m, but that this request was refused.

Two months later, a Labour party motion in the Dail to have £400,000 given to haemophiliacs put pressure on the Department to provide more substantial funding, he said.

This motion may have eventually contributed to the demise of the government, Dr O'Hanlon said.