POSITIVE Action has confirmed April 16th as its deadline for the presentation of a revised compensation scheme to its members. It has also set April 16th as the final date for the Blood Transfusion Service Board to declare its position on admission of liability.
The action group was formed by women who acquired the hepatitis C virus from infected blood supplies.
More than 500 people attended an extraordinary general meeting of the organisation in Dublin on Saturday at which it was agreed that the Government should present a reappraised compensation scheme to the group by Wednesday, April 16th.
A delegation had met Department of Health representatives last Friday and it had been indicated to them that draft heads of the Bill detailing the statutory provisions for the revised scheme would be available by April 16th.
According to Positive Action, this scheme must include an entitlement to aggravated and exemplary damages. The organisation also wants the Bill establishing the amended compensation scheme to be passed before the general election.
The Minister for Health, Mr Noonan, announced last month that the compensation tribunal for hepatitis C victims would be placed on a statutory basis, with provision for an appeal to the High Court on the amount of awards.
The meeting welcomed the report of the tribunal of inquiry under Mr Justice Finay and "the speed, sensitivity and sterling work" undertaken by the tribunal team. Positive Action called for the" recommendations and findings of the tribunal to be implemented in full.
Ms Jane O'Brien, chairwoman of Positive Action, said that its members were happy with the progress being made on the issue but "they weren't prepared to tolerate any messing. They wouldn't be off guard."
She said that the group would continue its campaign until it was satisfied with the statutory provisions.
"The political promises must now be made an immediate reality for the anti D mothers and other infected family members, who have been put through enormous additional stresses due to the manner in which this issue has been handled over the past two years," she said.
At Saturday's meeting a minute's silence was observed in memory of Mrs Brigid McCole, the Donegal mother of 12 who died last year as a result of her infection with the virus, just one week before her High Court action over her, contamination was due to begin. A vote of sympathy with Mrs McCole's husband and children was also passed.