THE Minister for Health said no words of his could ever "adequately apologise" to the 1,600 women and men who had been damaged by a system in which they had previously placed their fullest trust and confidence.

Mr Noonan was speaking on a motion noting the report of the Tribunal of Inquiry into the Blood Transfusion Service Board. (BTSB) and which acknowledged the "gravity of the findings made against the BTSB and its servants and agents".

The motion accepted in full the recommendations of the report and "fully understands the extraordinary anguish and distress experienced by the victims and their families".

It noted the widespread sense of outrage at the matters disclosed in the report and requested the BTSB to make known its position on liability in all outstanding cases forthwith in the light of the findings of the report

The motion supported the Government's intention to reappraise and amend the scheme of compensation and its terms of reference, including the question of whether the tribunal should be established on a statutory basis in the light of the report, the reappraisal to take place following consultation with representatives of the victims and with the chair of the compensation tribunal, and consideration of any necessary legal advice.

It also noted the Government's decision that the benefits of any adjustments to the compensation scheme will be made to all victims, including in particular cases which have already been determined by the tribunal, or which will be determined between now and the date any adjustments are put in place.

The motion also stated that the Government will not seek to repudiate any of the findings of fact in the tribunal report in any proceedings either in court or before the compensation tribunal.

Mr Noonan said: "I know I speak for everybody in this House and throughout the country, regard less of political affiliation, when I say that it is almost impossible to come to terms with the enormity of the scandal surrounding the hepatitis C infection of the anti D product and the blood supply. Notwithstanding our best efforts to do so I believe it will take a considerable length of time for all of us to comprehend fully the horrendous effect which this scandal has had, and continues to have, on the health and everyday lives of innocent victims and their families."

He said trauma and learn had been engendered in many innocent people by this experience. There was some recompense in the findings and allocation of responsibility by the tribunal and the minor recompense of the monetary awards to the victims. However, nothing could ever fully or irrevocably compensate them for being infected with hepatitis C - a condition for which there was unfortunately no cure.

The Minister said the truth had been "laid bare" by the tribunal. A number of controversies had been laid to rest and responsibility allocated in a fair, just and impartial manner. He said it did not make "happy reading".

"No citizen, be he or she victim, participant in the events described or mere concerned observer, can fail to be moved and humbled by the account of the distress and fortitude of those who have suffered and continue to suffer from the events described."

He described the report as an unemotional indictment of past procedures at the BTSB and said it was unequivocal in its apportionment of blame to certain named staff.

He said huge strides had been made to improve standards at the BTSB. Reorganisation had taken place in the BTSB and new standards of procedures had been introduced which would ensure that the mistakes of the past would not recur. The implementation of the tribunal's recommendations would build on the work already undertaken by the new management of the BTSB to ensure as far as possible the safety of blood and blood products in the future.

The Minister said it had been pointed out that the awarding of aggravated or punitive damages was available in the High Court but not to the compensation tribunal. He was now making it possible for the tribunal to award damages on the exact same basis as the High Court.

He believed that all parties ink the House who had served in Government must bear responsibility for the events which had occurred.

He said that while the Progressive Democrats had never held the Ministry of Health, they were in government between 1989 and 1992 when "some of the most shocking events took place". "Spokespersons opposite should remember this before they launch political attacks.