In regard to the sad information given by the Minister that three of the 11 deaths were among haemophiliacs and his reference to blood donations, I gather that organ donations have caused problems in other countries. Is he satisfied that procedures are in place to ensure — again within an Irish context — that all blood and organ products are fully screened? Furthermore, the Minister indicated in his first reply that he had his own committee working in the area. People working in the field have indicated that drug abuse constitutes one of the highest risks in the Irish context. Would the Minister say whether, apart from an education programme, he has any other programmes of action, such as counselling in mind, or whether he is hoping to initiate such programmes in the near future?

It would be pre-empting the launch of the campaign tomorrow were I to go into too much detail. We are very conscious of the problem associated with drug abusers. We shall be very anxious to ensure that they are made aware of the risks and dangers associated with AIDS.

In view of the fact that half of those who have died in Ireland to date have had sex-related histories, how explicit will be the programme to be announced by the Minister tomorrow? In what respects will it differ from that made available to the Government five months ago?

How explicit the programme will be is a relative thing depending on one's interpretation of "explicit". I think it might be better to await the launching of the programme when the Deputy will be in a position to judge how explicit it is.

In what respect will the programme to be launched tomorrow differ from that presented by the Chief Medical Officer and the Deputy Chief Medical Officer of the Department of Health and the Health Education Bureau through me to the previous Government?

I think the Deputy should wait and see.

That is not a very explicit answer.

I am anxious to pursue the matter of the deaths of the three haemophiliacs. The Minister said that those three deaths occurred despite the existence of a triple clearance procedure in regard to blood transfusions. Presumably that triple clearance procedure has operated since 1 January 1986. Can the Minister tell the House whether there has been a tightening up of the vetting procedure for blood transfusions and organ transplants in respect of haemophiliacs? Furthermore, would he say whether his Department have taken steps to ensure that there is a better vetting procedure in operation since the deaths of the three persons concerned?

Yes, the situation is being monitored very closely by officials of my Department to ensure that any necessary action to improve the quality of blood transfusions or the situation generally is broken. Of course one of the difficulties encountered is that the virus can be in situ for a long time before its clinical effects are identified. Obviously that fact increases the number of people who will present with AIDS, even though the AIDS virus may have been there for some years before presenting itself.

The Minister has already evaded a question from my colleague by asking him to wait until tomorrow. I have a specific question down to the Minister asking how the content and orientation of the campaign to be launched tomorrow will differ from that advised by the Chief Medical Officer of the Department of Health. Perhaps the Minister would answer that specific question.

This will be a public information campaign, part of the Government's strategy to deal with the very serious problem of AIDS, probably the most serious health problem facing this country since that of tuberculosis 40 years ago. The campaign will provide essential information to people so that they will be in a position, or will know how, to avoid contacting AIDS.

With respect, I asked the Minister how his campaign differs from the one supplied to the former Minister by the Chief Medical Officer of the Department of Health. Would the Minister indicate to the House how the campaign has changed and whether it will have specific reference to the preventive qualities of condoms?

The campaign broadly will be the same as that of the former Minister in that it will provide factual information to people as to how they can avoid contacting AIDS. The campaign will be launched tomorrow and we will be dealing with all aspects of the problem.