The chair of the tribunal, Judge Alison Lindsay, said in her opening statement that the inquiry had been set up to inquire urgently into a matter of public concern - the infection of haemophiliacs with HIV and hepatitis C through contaminated blood products.
She said it could not be stressed strongly enough that the tribunal would be inquisatorial, not adversarial, and, given the sensitive nature of the issues involved, it was imperative that those infected as well as any person whose reputation or interest might be affected by the tribunal findings, would be represented.
Special arrangements had been made to preserve the anonymity of infected persons who gave evidence, including the erection of a screen from behind which they could give evidence.
The judge turned down an application by the Irish Haemophilia Society to adjourn proceedings after the first two weeks to July 17th to enable its legal team to prepare fully for the inquiry. It said it lost valuable time as it fought with the Department of Health to have its costs met.
The judge considered objections on behalf of the Blood Transfusion Service Board (now the Irish Blood Transfusion Service) which said an adjournment would prolong the inquiry and could have an effect on blood donations; and on behalf of Prof Ian Temperley, director of the National Haemophilia Treatment Centre from 1971-1995, and Dr Helena Daly, locum consultant haematologist with the National Haemophilia Treatment Centre from July to September 1985, who did not want the matter hanging over them unnecessarily. Judge Lindsay said a more appropriate date to resume evidence would be June 20th.