John Gormley

Mr. Gormley: I wish to have the business of the House suspended under Standing Order 31 to discuss an issue of urgent public importance, namely, the revelation by RTE news that between 70 and 100 families whose children were given blood products not properly screened for the hepatitis C virus are to be contacted; and the need for the Minister for Health and Children to determine exactly how the situation arose.

An Ceann Comhairle: Having considered the matters raised, they are not in order under Standing Order 31.

Amendment No. 3: In page 5, between lines 24 and 25, to insert the following: “(5) (a) A person applying for a subvention, or a person acting on his or her behalf, may appeal, to an appeals officer designated by the Minister, on the grounds of— (i) his or her means and circumstances, or (ii) any abatement of the rate of subvention to that person of the maximum rate appropriate to that person’s level of dependency, against a decision of the Executive—

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