asked the Minister for Health the number of deaths caused by the chemical paraquat within the past five years; and if it is his intention to ban its use or alternatively have it withdrawn from open sale and placed on the deadly poisons list.
3.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Paraquat Sales.
2.
asked the Minister for Health if it is his intention to ban the sale or use of substances containing paraquat poison; and, if not, why.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 3 together.
According to information made available by the Central Statistics Office, the total number of deaths caused by paraquat poisoning in the five-year period from 1969 to 1973 was 44, of which seven deaths were classified as accidental and the remainder were classified either as suicides or as "undetermined whether accidentally or purposely inflicted". Any question of banning the use of paraquat is primarily a matter for the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries.
The Minister for Health is concerned with the control of the sale of the substance. In this respect the position is that under the Poisons Act, 1961 (Paraquat) Regulations, 1968, paraquat may be sold only by certain authorised persons, such as pharmaceutical chemists, and persons licensed to sell other poisons. These regulations also contain certain packaging and labelling provisions, including the requirements that the container must have legibly written on it the word "poison" and a warning that the contents should not be taken, should be kept out of the reach of children, should not be repacked from the container and that the container should be destroyed when empty.
In addition to the requirements in the regulations steps have been taken by the manufacturers, in co-operation with my Department, with a view to preventing accidental paraquat poisonings to the greatest practicable extent. They limited severely, for example, the number of retail outlets for the sale of the substance. Also, as a result of research which they had initiated some time ago, they have recently succeeded in producing a "stench-added" formulation of the product and this should considerably reduce the likelihood of the substance being taken accidentally in future. The "stench added" formulation has been on sale in the gallon container size for some months past and all future issues of the quart and pint size containers will consist of this formulation.
There have been, I might say, no cases of death resulting from the use of paraquat in accordance with the manufacturers' instructions and I cannot see that any tighter restrictions which I might apply to its sale would materially alter this situation.
While I accept that the Department of Health are doing their best in the circumstances it is clear that the primary responsibility for the banning or otherwise of paraquat is in the hands of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. Has the Parliamentary Secretary or his Department been in touch with the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries on the question of a possible ban or does he feel that a ban is necessary? Would he agree that 44 deaths in five years through whatever cause is a considerable indictment of the chemical paraquat?
I agree entirely with the Deputy and like every other Deputy my sympathy goes out to the families involved. I can assure the Deputy that both the Minister for Health and the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries are in consultation in regard to this serious problem and we hope they will be able to reach a satisfactory solution.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary satisfied that the number of deaths caused by paraquat poisoning is accurate at 44 over the last five years? Where does he get the figure of 44 because I was unable to get these figures in the past few months and only partial statistics were available in the Department of Health? The Central Statistics Office said they had no responsibility in that regard.
The only figures I have are supplied by the Central Statistics Office and I have to accept them.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary not consider it advisable for the Department of Health to have such statistics? Is he satisfied in regard to what his Department are responsible for, the control of the sale of this substance?
I think I have made it quite clear that the Department of Health are very concerned in this regard and, in regard to the sale of paraquat, we have made regulations and insisted that they be carried out.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that this substance is freely available in many places and that anybody can walk into a premises and purchase it in small bottles as was instanced in the newspapers by a prominent doctor yesterday? Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that it is possible to purchase it in these small amounts and that any child can purchase it?
I have seen the report in the newspapers referred to by the Deputy and I have made inquiries. We are trying to ensure that it will be more and more difficult for anybody to acquire the substance.
This is a serious matter——
The Chair has allowed a good deal of latitude and is anxious to bring in other Deputies.
Could the Parliamentary Secretary indicate what controls he intends to introduce because the public are very concerned in this regard?
I think I made it quite clear in the reply to the original question that the Department of Health are trying to ensure that the controls will be severe and restrictive.
What are the controls?
I read them out in my reply.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that while there was supposed to be a stench additive added to paraquat some months ago, even now if you go into any premises those gallon containers do not contain the additive? Would the Parliamentary Secretary ask the suppliers to withdraw this spray and have the stench additive included? The general public believed this stench additive was to be included in the gallon containers but this has not been the case unless these are stocks they are still selling out.
I can only say that production of the stench added form of gramoxone is the result of research conducted by ICI over the past number of years. An earlier attempt to produce a jelly form to prevent accidental drinking of the substance proved abortive. It can be appreciated that it is not a simple matter.
And 44 people died.
Why paraquat? Is there an alternative which could be used by farmers?
We must pass on to the next question. As Deputies will appreciate, I have given a lot of lattitude.
I want to know why the Government do not introduce a ban on paraquat? There may be a reason why they do not but I, and I am sure others outside this House, would like to know.
I should like to ask the Parliamentary Secretary——
The Deputy must allow the Parliamentary Secretary to reply.
I said in my original reply that the ban on paraquat is a matter primarily for the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries.
Question No. 4.
In the meantime people are dying while the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries and the Minister for Health cannot come to an agreement on this very serious question.
4.
asked the Minister for Health if he is satisfied that the protection afforded to the Irish community with regard to medicines is adequate.
I am satisfied that the controls in operation and in process of development provide adequate protection for the public.
The marketing of all new medicines is subject to prior authorisation under the European Communities (Proprietary Medicinal Products) Regulations, 1974, which came into operation on 1st October, 1974, and which put on a legal basis voluntary arrangements which already existed between the industry and the National Drugs Advisory Board for monitoring the safety of new medicines before they are placed on the market. I have also made regulations entitled the Medical Preparations (Licensing of Manufacture) Regulations, 1974, effective from 1st October, 1975, to govern the adequacy of arrangements and facilities generally in Irish pharmaceutical factories for production, quality control, distribution, record-keeping, and so on, of medicines. Regulations for the licensing of wholesalers of medicines are also in course of preparation and will be made shortly.
As regards protection at retail level, the Medical Preparations (Control of Sale) Regulations, 1966, provide that certain substances may be sold, by retail, only by pharmaceutical chemists and other qualified persons. In addition certain of these substances may be sold only on prescription. These particular controls are kept under constant review.
In reply to a question a year ago the Minister informed me that a committee would examine these regulations and new regulations would be made. I understand from the Parliamentary Secretary that these new regulations have been made but will not be effective until October, 1975. What is the reason for the delay in bringing the regulations into effect?
As I have already stated, some will come into operation in 1974 and others in 1975. The Deputy will understand that the making of regulations is not very easy. Notice must be given to certain people in fairness to everybody.
Question No. 5.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the greatest number of casualties in England has been because of children eating flavoured aspirins which are available in any supermarket? Can regulations be made to control their sale?
That is a specific question.
I should like to ask the Parliamentary Secretary if substances containing paraquat poisons come under these controls?
Substances containing paraquat poisons come under the regulations I mentioned in the last question.
Question No. 5.