Vol. 378 No. 4
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to reports that high levels of radiation have been found in sheep in certain areas of Donegal; if he will outline the information available to his Department on this matter; if, in view of the possible damage to the image of Irish food products abroad, he intends to take any special measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
37.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food in view of the Nuclear Energy Board report indicating that up to 68 per cent of Donegal sheep could be contaminated with radiation, and in view of the restrictions already imposed by Northern Irish authorities on its contaminated sheep, the steps, if any, he will take to ensure that consumers and farmers will be protected from sheep contaminated with radiation.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 37 together.
The monitoring of live sheep for radiation commenced last summer and covered flocks in upland areas with peaty soil where the rainfall was heavy when the radiation plume from the Chernobyl nuclear accident passed over this country in early May 1986.
The monitoring covered flocks in upland areas of Counties Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon, Mayo, Galway, Waterford, Kilkenny, Louth and Wicklow. A summary of the results of this monitoring was published in a joint statement issued by my Department and the Nuclear Energy Board on 4 February 1988. Briefly the monitoring showed that 98 per cent of the sheep tested were found to have radio-caesium levels below the internationally accepted action level of 1,000 becquerels per kilogram. The 2 per cent which showed levels higher than the 1,000 becquerels were, for the most part, sheep retained on farms for breeding purposes.
The Nuclear Energy Board report referred to by Deputy Stagg indicated that 89 of the 130 farms (68 per cent) on which live monitoring of sheep was conducted could be regarded as having flocks with more than one animal per thousand having a radio-caesium level over 600 becquerels per kilogram. It did not indicate that 68 per cent of the sheep in the county could be affected by high levels of radiation.
The normal practice in these upland areas is to move the lambs to lowland pasture for a period of two to four months prior to slaughter. This move to lowland pasture results in a halving of caesium levels every two weeks, which ensures that the sheep, even the limited number over 1,000 becquerels per kilogram when on the mountain, are well under the EC safety standard of 600 bq. per kg. for meat at time of slaughter. This is confirmed by the live monitoring of sheep which is also conducted at slaughter premises and the monitoring of samples of sheepmeat at butchers shops throughout the country.
This programme of monitoring will be continued so as to ensure that sheepmeat sold for consumption does not represent any health problem and that there is no cause for any consumer concern. Last month's results further confirm that our sheepmeat is well within specified limits; no animal tested exceeded 600 bqs. per kg. and over 96 per cent were under 100bqs. per kg. Our vigilance at point of slaughter is the most effective and reassuring measure we can take not only for consumers but for the image of our food products in general.
Our export trade in sheepmeat is with member states of the EC and we have not experienced any difficulty in meeting the EC limit of 600 bq. per kg.
Will the Minister confirm that 600 becquerels of radio-caesium per kilogram constitutes the Irish and EC limits, not the 1,000 becquerels per kilogram to which he referred? Will he confirm that the latter is the British level, taking account of their nuclear industry? Further, will he say why it took so long before action was taken by his Department? Why was it that the Northern Ireland authorities had to impose restrictions before there was any action taken by his Department? Why did we lag so far behind in that regard? Furthermore, will the Minister ensure that the findings of the Nuclear Energy Board are published since it is a matter of concern to the public to the industry and consumers generally?
I said in my reply that the 1,000 becquerels per kilogram was the internationally accepted action level of radio-caesium. The Deputy is quite right — the 600 becquerels per kilogram constitues the European standard and we have been to the forefront in endeavouring to have that level reduced. Therefore, it will be seen that we are well within the lower European standard. As far as our being slow in reacting, I should say the fact of the matter is that quite the opposite was the case. What may have happened in relation to the North of Ireland is a different matter for a variety of reasons. We took immediate action to ensure that sheepmeat in our jurisdiction conformed to the standards I have mentioned in my reply. I should stress that we have had the most constant system of monitoring at all points.
Can the Minister confirm that he will arrange to have the report of the Nuclear Energy Board published? In order to allay public fears in this matter, will he confirm that there was no attempt at any cover-up whatsoever?
I might point out to the Deputy that it is not a matter for me to publish reports of the Nuclear Energy Board. I could not envisage being asked that question because it is not my function to do so. I should stress that neither I nor my Department have anything to hide in this respect. I will pass on the Deputy's suggestion to the Minister responsible — though I doubt that even he can direct the Nuclear Energy Board to publish reports, they being an independent body.
That disposes of questions for today.
