The State has to protect the State and its finances as advice from the Attorney General dictates.The link you posted from NT
"More than 1,600 people got hepatitis C from the transfusions provided by the state's health service and to date more than 300 have died as a result"
"There have been around 5,000 claims from victims and their relatives so far.
According to the memorandum, the tribunal cost €1.086 billion by the end of 2013 and would likely cost another €1.23 billion thereafter."
If Mary Lou was in office she would be doing the exact same.
Otherwise there would be a queue from Government Buildings back as far as the Red Cow roundabout for cheques for every single claim.