A new investigation into the Hepatitis C blood scandal is to be set up following revelations that twenty eight people who contracted the disease were not immediately informed of the diagnosis.
In a statement today the Minister for Health, Mr Micheál Martin, confirmed two groups representing people infected with Hepatitis C had requested an investigation.
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Mr Micheál Martin
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The groups are understood to want a senior counsel to establish the facts relating to the notification by the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) of positive Hepatitis C test results for all donors throughout the country since 1991.
Ms Detta Warlock of Positive Action, one of the two support groups, told ireland.comthat in some cases the delay in notification could be up to three years.
Ms Warlock said: "We want to see a full investigation in the case of all donors." She said the bones of the investigation has been agreed with the Dpeartment of Health and we are meeting the Minister next Tuesday to finalise the terms of reference.
Minister Martin said: "Twenty eight donors have already been identified by the IBTS as having had delay in being notified of their Hepatitis C status.
"The Department understands from the IBTS that all the donors in question were subsequently informed that they were infected with Hepatitis C and the full range of health care services is available to them."
Mr Martin confirmed he would meet representatives of these groups within the next week to discuss the terms of reference of the investigation.
