176 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will act in the case of a person (details supplied); his views on whether the treatment of the person since she discovered she had contracted hepatitis C, by his Department has been appropriate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28112/01]

The background to the case is as follows. The person concerned tested positive for hepatitis C in October 1997 while she and her family were resident in the State. Subsequently, she claimed travelling and subsistence expenses from the ex gratia scheme operated by the Blood Transfusion Service Board, now the Irish Blood Transfusion Service.