Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 13 Oct 1998

Vol. 495 No. 1

Written Answers. - Animal Deaths.

Trevor Sargent

Question:

273 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to recently published scientific studies which link animal disease and death in the Askeaton area of County Limerick with aluminium poisoning. [19109/98]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

I refer to the reply to Question No. 208 of 28 April 1998.

I am aware of a recent article in the scientific journal Veterinary and Human Toxicology which gave rise to concerns, reported in a national newspaper on 27 September 1998, regarding a possible connection between disease and deaths of horses in the Askeaton area of County Limerick and acid rain. I am also aware that, following a detailed examination of the report by the Irish Equine Centre on which the journal and newspaper articles were based, the Environmental Protection Agency issued a statement on 2 October 1998 to clarify that its intensive investigations do not indicate that the Askeaton area is subject to acid rain or to aerial contamination by aluminium. The statement also confirmed that the Mid-Western Health Board, one of the agencies involved in the multidisciplinary team carrying out a major animal health investigation in the area since 1995, has found no evidence to date of excess human disease in the area which could be linked to aluminium.

The EPA statement rejected inferences and speculative comments in the media which were not borne out by evidence, and sought to allay any fears which the local community might have as a result of misinformation, particularly in relation to possible implications for human health. I share and support the agency's position in this regard.