THE Government will consider the report into the hepatitis C tribunal of inquiry tomorrow and publication is expected shortly afterwards. The 200 page report is understood to have effectively cleared the Minister for Health, Mr Noonan, and his predecessor Mr Howlin, from political culpability in their handling of the scandal.
The report, by Mr Justice Thomas Finlay, presents a series of recommendations for overhauling the State's blood services and severely criticises the Blood Transfusion Service Board.
While senior, politicians have emerged relatively unscathed, BTSB officials have been rebuked, and the Department of Health is believed to have been singled out for its inadequate response.
The report also expresses shock that Patient X's plasma was used to make anti D immunoglobulin, even though the BTSB knew she had jaundice, and infective hepatitis. It is particularly critical of the fact that the BTSB breached its own guidelines by using the contaminated plasma.
Meanwhile, the Fianna Fail spokesman on health, Mr Brian Cowen, said yesterday that the Minister should immediately instruct the BTSB to inform anyone who received blood products potentially infected with hepatitis C who has not already come forward
The Irish Times has learned that a woman who was, infected in the 1970s did not discover she had hepatitis C until a few months ago, when she went for testing. She subsequently discovered the BTSB had it on file that she had received one of the suspect products.
The woman had not believed she was one of those at risk but her GP suggested recently that she be tested for hepatitis C after a period of ill health.
A spokesman for the BTSB said yesterday that the board had made every effort to contact those who were at risk.
In some cases there were difficulties, including trying to contact patients who had changed address and GP, in some cases, a number of times.
"We hope that given all the publicity people would have come forward. It is difficult to see how someone could not have been aware of the situation," he said.
Mr Cowen said it was most serious if there were still people of whom the BTSB was aware, who had not been notified.
"These people have a right to, know and a right to get treatment if it is necessary."
He called for an epidemiological study which would show the incidence of hepatitis C in the population.
He also called on the Minister to instruct the BTSB to inform the relatives deceased people who might have been infected.
The BTSB spokesman said that as part of the hepatitis C look back programme, which began over two years ago, the board had informed the GPs of patients who were found to have received potentially - infected blood products.
. Mr Justice Finlay is not expected to direct that the report be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions. Counsel for the hepatitis C tribunal and for the public interest have both recommended against such a move, on the grounds that it could prejudice possible proceedings.