asked the Minister for Health the reasonably safe periods of time in which an agricultural worker may be continuously exposed to the poisonous substances listed in the proposed amendment No. 121 which was tabled to the Health Bill, 1969, without risk to health or risk of poisoning.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Use of Poisonous Substances in Agriculture.
10.
I am not in a position to furnish the information requested, the compilation of which, even on general lines, would entail consultations with various experts on the subject.
It will of course be appreciated that the reasonably safe period of time in which a substance may be used in the circumstances referred to by the Deputy would depend on a number of factors, for example, the toxicity and concentration of the substance, climatic conditions, the manner in which used and the extent of the precautions taken by the operator.
I understand that in general the distributors of chemical compounds used in agriculture indicate on the container precautions for the protection of operators using the substances.
I would refer the Deputy to the debate in the Dáil on the Committee Stage of the Health Bill, 1969, during which I indicated, inter alia, that the control of the use of the preparations referred to in the question is primarily a matter for the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries.
Before the list was compiled surely most of the information must have been available?
I am afraid it is not available and it would take a great deal of time to have it compiled.
How was the list compiled if the information was not available?
These products are not being listed here in the same way as they have been in Great Britain. When the Poisons Bill is introduced in the Dáil there are a number of matters which will require the collaboration of the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries. Then we shall be able to get a kind of level movement between the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries and myself in our approach to this subject. I can say that to the Deputy.
The Minister is passing the baby to the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries who has enough on his own plate at the present time.