The Irish Haemophilia Society has informed the Haemophilia Infection Inquiry it wants to make an application for its members to give evidence when the tribunal begins hearings in the new year.
The society's administrator, Ms Rosemary Daly, said she had sent a letter to the tribunal office about the application. Earlier this week, the tribunal chairwoman, Judge Alison Lindsay, ruled she could not guarantee that haemophiliacs infected with HIV and hepatitis C would be called to give evidence first. She said she would accept applications from those wishing to do so.
Ms Daly is hoping the tribunal, which is investigating how 260 people with haemophilia became infected with HIV and hepatitis C through contaminated blood products, will sit to hear the application before Christmas.
In a further development, the Irish Haemophilia Society is due to meet officials from the Chief State Solicitor's office and the Attorney General's office this morning to discuss the possible payment of its legal costs for the tribunal.