Dáil Éireann - Volume 614 - 08 February, 2006

Written Answers. - Compensation Payments.

Mr. Ardagh Mr. Ardagh

  181. Mr. Ardagh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children the position regarding compensation to be paid to partners and spouses of hepatitis C victims for loss of consortium. [4488/06]

Ms Harney Ms Harney

665

  Ms Harney: The Hepatitis C and HIV Compensation Tribunal (Amendment) Act 2002 extended the categories of individuals who may apply to the tribunal for compensation. Persons who are either married to a person with hepatitis C or HIV or are cohabiting for a continuous period of not less than three years may make a claim to the tribunal for loss of consortium including impairment of sexual relations arising from the risk of transmission of HIV or hepatitis C. I am informed that the tribunal has been routinely hearing cases of this nature since the commencement of the Act on 9 October 2002 and has made awards totalling €32 million in respect of approxi[665] mately 420 cases. As with other categories of claim, I understand that the tribunal is in position to allocate an early hearing date to claims for loss of consortium once the relevant documentation is in order.

Dáil Éireann 614 Written Answers. Compensation Payments.

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