A formal inquiry into the circumstances which led to more than 1,600 men and women being infected with hepatitis C by contaminated blood and blood products needs to be established, according to the Minister for Health.
Speaking on RTE television's Questions And Answers last night, Mr Noonan said that when the High Court case involving the late Ms Brigid McCole had been imminent, he felt it would have been a waste of taxpayers' money to set up a separate inquiry. Since Ms McCole's death that case was no longer going ahead and questions remained to be answered, he said.
"We do need to inquire further, we need the truth and we need to invest in somebody the power to be able to cross examine, to compel and be able to look at witnesses," he said.