asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to reports (details supplied) that the berries of the house plant solanum popularly known as the Christmas orange or Jerusalem cherry and widely purchased as Christmas decorations are highly toxic and constitute a serious danger to children; and if he will consider as a matter of urgency making it an offence to offer such plants for sale without a warning label.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Toxic Berries.
25.
I have seen a Press report on the subject referred to in the question.
I have no power to control the sale of plants as such.
Whilst I understand that the plant in question presents no greater a hazard than certain other household plants and vegetables in common supply and that there is therefore no particular cause for alarm, common prudence would demand that, where there are young children, house plants bearing berries or other fruit should be kept out of their reach and should preferably not be introduced into the home at all unless the person responsible is satisfied that the berries, and so on, are safe if eaten accidentally.
Would the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that as this plant is used widely at Christmas time and its berries are a great attraction to children and often within very easy reach of them, it is vitally necessary that the public should be made aware of their danger to children?
The seeds and berries of other plants are also dangerous to children, and I hope the asking of this question and my reply to it will warn people, especially parents, to be more careful.