Appropriation Act, 1995

Setting up of special account.

3.—(1) In this section—

“the Scheme” means the Scheme of Compensation established or to be established by the Minister for Health for the purpose of compensating, on an ex gratia basis, certain persons who have been diagnosed positive for Hepatitis C antibodies or Hepatitis C virus resulting from—

(a) the use of Human Immunoglobulin — Anti-D within the State, or

(b) the receiving by certain persons of a blood transfusion or a blood product within the State;

“special account” means an account for the purposes of the Scheme in the joint names of the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Health, which account shall—

(a) be an account with the Paymaster General,

(b) be subject to such terms and conditions as the Minister for Finance in consultation with the Minister for Health, may determine, and

(c) be subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General;

“the Tribunal” means the tribunal appointed by the Minister for Health under the Scheme to administer the Scheme.

(2) There shall be set up a special account, to be funded from moneys provided by the Oireachtas in the Health Vote, to be used to pay awards, on an ex gratia basis, made by the Tribunal under the Scheme and to pay the costs of administering the Scheme.

(3) Subject to subsection (4), the moneys in the special account may be used at any time but shall only be used for the purposes for which they were voted and shall be issued out of that account only by direction of the Minister for Finance.

(4) Any moneys, including interest (if any), in the special account may be paid into, or disposed for the benefit of, the Exchequer in accordance with the directions of the Minister for Finance.