andMr. T.J. Fitzpatrick (Cavan-Monaghan) asked the Minister for the Environment the nature and implications for Ireland of the EEC proposed directive on the lead content of petrol and when it will take effect here.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Petrol Lead Content.
11.
The directive on the approximation of the laws of the member states concerning the lead content of petrol was adopted by the Council of Ministers on 29 June 1978 and provides that the maximum lead content of petrol placed on the Community internal market shall be 0.40 grammes per litre from 1 January 1981. Article 7 of the directive provides that for a period of five years after that date petrol may be placed on the market in Ireland even though its lead content is greater than 0.40 grammes per litre but without exceeding the current content of 0.64 grammes per litre. The directive provides for a possible further derogation period of not more than five years, that is if the Council of Ministers, acting by qualified majority on a proposal from the Commission, so decide.
I gave particulars of concentrations of lead in the ambient air when I replied to previous questions on 15 June 1978. Since these levels show a favourable comparison with levels elsewhere in the EEC, there can be no implication that the derogation, which was required only for half the petrol consumption in this country, will worsen the position here. The Department of Health are responsible for the screening of the population for lead in accordance with a directive adopted on 9 December 1976 and I expect the results of this investigation to be communicated to me in due course.
Why are our citizens apparently expected to accept standards of lead in their petrol, when they can get it, which are above EEC standards?
They are not subjected to higher levels of lead than the citizens of other cities. Air quality is consistently monitored in this city. In comparison with a city like Brussels we are better off. We are not subjected to anything more excessive than exists in other cities.
Does the Minister agree that standards of pollution are relative and that because Dublin is less affected than Brussels is not a good reason for refusing to be interested in improving it so that the air is totally clean? Is the lead content in petrol on sale here higher than the lead content in petrol on sale in Europe?
The lead content is dependent on the place where the crude oil comes from. Since we import 50 per cent of product we cannot control the lead content. It is probable that some EEC countries have very modern refineries and are in a better position to control the lead content. It is also probable that their petrol is being purchased from countries where the crude oil has a lower lead content.
The Minister said that the lead content is four grammes per litre, which seems very high——
I said it was 0.4 grammes.
How many monitoring stations have we in Dublin city and does the Minister think that we have a sufficient number of them?
The concentrations of atmospheric lead measured at the O'Connell Street station show that the average winter mean levels for the past four years was 3.2 microgrammes per cubic metre. These levels compare favourably with the results from other Community countries. We have a second station in the traffic area of O'Connell Street sampling lead in the ambient air. There is another station at Kilbarrack.
The last time I asked a question on this matter the Minister informed me that he would consider setting up a monitoring station at Sutton. Has this been done?
Not yet. It is not too long since the Deputy asked the question.
Would the Minister look into the matter again?
Certainly.
Is the Minister aware that there seems to be a noticeable variation in the quality of petrol which is allegedly of the same octane content and has he any information on the matter? Does the Minister know whether the lead content has any bearing on the quality of petrol?
That is a separate question.
From my knowledge of the oil business I would not think that it has a bearing on the matter. Petrol is now being bought in the spot market, which is not the best place to buy it. This is a matter for the Department of Industry, Commerce and Energy.
Is the Minister making provision to ensure that we will not have to continue with this situation when the five-year derogation period ends?
It is not my intention to have a further derogation and I hope that it will not be necessary to have one. There is a provision to look for it but it can only be got by agreement.
Is the Minister doing something about the matter?
Yes, at ministerial meetings.