Question to the Minister for Health
To ask the Minister for Health if he will provide details of moneys paid to members of the Hepatitis C / HIV Compensation Board; the work required of each member to fulfil their duties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. – Jerry Buttimer T.D.
For WRITTEN ANSWER on 04/12/2012
REPLY
The Minister for Health (Dr. James Reilly):
Under Section 3 of the Hepatitis C Compensation Tribunal Act l997, the Minister for Health appoints the members of the Hepatitis C and HIV Compensation Tribunal.
The remuneration for Tribunal members is approved by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. A briefing fee, payable on a once-off basis, when new members take up their respective appointments, is €10,000. This was reduced from €17,526 in June, 2012. In addition, members receive a daily rate of €845.00 plus VAT per sitting day. This was reduced from €992.68 plus VAT in June, 2012.
The Tribunal carries out judicial type functions and is therefore very different to a typical State Board. It hears claims in relation to persons infected with Hepatitis C or HIV through the administration within the State of infected blood or blood products. Claims are dealt with by the Tribunal by way of an in camera oral hearing before two members of the Tribunal and the Chairperson. The Tribunal was set up in order that claimants could have their cases heard in a confidential, person centred, fashion. The brief fee reflects the considerable work that each new member must undertake to familiarise themselves with the Tribunal process, the outcome of previous Tribunal hearings and precedents set to ensure a level of consistency among claims heard.