Bureaucratic bungling must stop

THE issue of tainted blood was the greatest bureaucratic scandal of the 20th century in Ireland. It has already involved more than 75 premature deaths. That total is likely to increase to more than €200.

The repercussions from the affair have been enormous and continue with no sign of abating.

In 1989 it led to the fall of Charles Haughey's government. Michael Noonan's handling of the Brigid McCole affair hurt his career, even though he was exonerated by the Finlay Tribunal of all the charges made against him.