asked the Minister for Health, in view of the concern about the discharging of radioactive waste from the nuclear processing plant at Sellafield and reports of an increased incidence of leukaemia on the east coast of this country, the measures he proposes to take to eliminate any risk to health.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Radioactive Waste.
10.
The monitoring of radiation levels in the environment is the responsibility of the Minister for Energy.
There have been some reports of an increased incidence of leukaemia on this side of the Irish Sea. My Department are at present carrying out an epidemiological study into the incidence of childhood leukaemia. It is only when this study is completed that it will be possible to establish whether or not there is an increase in these cases on the eastern seaboard. The study will naturally take account of the latest reports on the north-east coast.
I am sure the Deputies will agree that it is desirable that we should base any action including an approach to UK authorities in relation to this matter as far as possible on established facts.
When does the Minister expect this study to be completed? Has he been in contact with the UK authorities?
My Department are in regular contact with the authorities and, indeed, the Minister for Energy has also been in regular contact. A meeting took place quite recently. There is an Irish-UK contact group in relation to the Sellafield issue and a meeting took place on 14 November 1984. The next meeting will be held on 30 April next. I can assure the Deputy that we are keeping a very close eye on the situation. Since mid-1983 I have been preoccupied with the issue and with the research findings.
Would the Minister accept that the British authorities must be very concerned about the situation, as they are going to get a major injection of capital to try to improve control of the wastage from Sellafield?
The Department of Health, in consultation with the Department of Community Medicine and Epidemiology at UCD, have established a consultative committee to carry out a study into the incidence rates for childhood leukaemia to determine whether there is an increase in cases on the eastern seaboard. A number of specialists have been engaged for the purposes of the study. In brief, the terms of reference are — to examine the national incidence of childhood leukaemia in the 0-14 years of age range approximately from 1970 up to now and to examine the mortality in the 0-25 years of age range from 1950, subject to data availability. The incidence rates will be analysed for any clustering in space or time and for any excesses in certain geographical areas. Finally, the group will critically examine the Black report, issued by Sir Douglas Black, in relation to the increased incidence of cancer in West Cumbria, which report is public knowledge. They are examining the available evidence relating to Dr. Sheehan's and Dr. Hillery's hypothesis concerning the excess of Down's syndrome on the east coast of Ireland. When I get that report, I shall immediately make it public.
When does the Minister expect it to be available?
I do not know the precise date when the study will be available. I know that my Department would be extremely anxious that there should be no delay involved. Work has commenced already on the collation of the preliminary data. At a later stage discussions will be necessary with the epidemiologists from the United Kingdom. I would hope that we would involve the Northern Ireland health authorities. Their assistance will be sought in this study. I will endeavour to bring forward a report as quickly as possible. It is of public importance that the information be made available as quickly as possible.
Would the Minister accept that the weight of evidence from medical and scientific sources at present indicates that a problem arises from the radioactive waste emissions from Sellafield, formerly known as Windscale, and that the Irish Government should be insisting that these waste emissions be stopped forthwith?
I have been in consultation with my colleague, the Minister for Energy. I can assure the Deputy that the British authorities have been very strongly urged by me to implement speedily the recommendations of the Black report. The Department of Energy, together with the other Departments concerned, including the Department of Health, and the Nuclear Energy Board, will follow very closely the actions which the British authorities are taking towards implementing the recommendations of that report. At this stage it is not possible to say what correlation exists between Sellafield and the north-east coast because we do not have an effective national cancer register with sufficient data to enable the incidence of leukaemia on the east coast to be established. We have to establish the relativity by research and that must begin from scratch.
Would the Minister agree that there is a somewhat fragmented approach at present towards this major problem? Would he be in agreement with the concept of setting up an environmental protection agency which would examine all aspects of environmental pollution, including radioactive discharge, both at sea and on land?
I want to pay tribute to those who have co-operated in the study now in train. There will be difficulty in obtaining valid data prior to 1974, and particularly prior to 1970. Dr. Herrity of the Department of Community Medicine and Epidemiology will be the co-ordinator of the study and Dr. Daly also of the same Department will act as the biostatistician. Finally, Dr. Fennelly, the oncologist, with a joint appointment involving a number of the major Dublin teaching hospitals, has also agreed to participate in the study. The first meeting took place in November last. It was attended by the leading consultants dealing with the problem throughout the country. They had been invited to participate in the study and readily agreed to do so. Therefore, the work is well advanced. I am anxious to have the research data available to the Department as quickly as possible.