Vol. 429 No. 1
7 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for the Environment the proposals, if any, he has to make provision for the measurement of ultra-violet radiation at sites other than Valentia Island, County Kerry, consequent on the depletion of the ozone layer; if there exists any baseline data for this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
14 Miss Harney asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, he has to monitor the ozone layer; and if he will ensure that information is made available on the matter.
Wexford): I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 14 together.
The Meteorological Service has now commenced monitoring of levels of ultra-violet radiation at Valentia Island. It is intended to extend this monitoring to the Dublin area shortly. While some previous monitoring of ultra-violet radiation has been carried out in Ireland, the Meteorological Service monitoring will provide the first systematic data on the national impact of ozone layer depletion.
Monitoring of the ozone layer itself has been carried out mainly through major international research projects, including a recent EC programme. My Department is considering with the Meteorological Service the possibility of contributing to this EC programme by establishing a specific Irish programme for the monitoring of the ozone layer in co-operation with interested third level institutions. Monitoring information on ozone layer depletion will be made available to the public.
Is the Minister saying that there are no baseline data for Ireland? Will he say that en clair, so to speak, so that we will know where we are starting from? Does the Minister have any plans to include in the public information the kind of warning required on expected levels of radiation? There is a growing concern at the effects of ozone depletion, for example, an increase in skin cancers, not to mention anything else. Does the Minister envisage that we might reach the point where warnings similar to those on potato blight will be issued, as a matter of routine?
(Wexford): There are no baseline data on the condition of the ozone layer directly over Ireland, nor on the levels of ultra violet radiation in Ireland. With regard to the need for public health warnings, calls have been made for the establishment of a system of public health warnings in the event of evidence that Ireland is receiving increased ultra violet radiation. The Department of the Environment and the Department of Health are already engaged in discussions on this matter. So far very few countries in the northern hemisphere have adopted such a system of health warnings. While the Department is fully committed to the open and transparent availability of information, it does not follow that it would be useful to translate this information directly into a health warning system. All public agencies concerned and, in particular, the Department of Health will take stock of the monitoring information and consider the extent to which health warnings may be justified.
I invite the Minister to think again on his last point. I know his officials will tell him to be very careful about giving new commitments. Would the Minister not agree that by far the safest thing to do in relation to issues which concern the environment and the possible effects of radiation on public health is to assume that the worst will probably happen and give people the information they require in order to prevent it happening, rather than take the very obdurate position which his Department always takes of never doing anything until there has been a major disaster? Will he reflect again on his last point and do the simple and safe thing first instead of coming along like Offenbach's carabineers after the problem has worsened?
(Wexford): The immediate requirement is to obtain better and more systematic scientific information. The Department of the Environment and the Department of Health are engaged in ongoing discussions on this issue.
I wish to draw the Minister's attention to the fact that the incidence of skin cancer in Ireland has doubled over the past ten years. If that is not a major catastrophe which should have been prevented, I do not know what is. We should not be looking at what may happen. I ask the Minister to ensure that his Department deals with this matter with a greater degree of urgency.
(Wexford): We are dealing with this problem with extreme urgency. Substantial amounts of money have already been invested in the scientific area. We have also made an application to the EC through the STRIDE programme for further funding. I can assure the Deputy that we are treating this matter with the utmost urgency.
I am very interested in this issue. May I ask the Minister how the EC directive on freedom of information will affect the policy of his Department in so far as the availability of information is concerned? The Minister said that information would be made available. Will this information be available on radio? Will it include details regarding the ozone layer outside Ireland? Such information would be very relevant to the many people who go abroad either on business or pleasure trips. Many people travel abroad during the summer months, when they face the greatest risk of getting skin cancer. Will there be any involvement by the Department of Health in terms of funding or will the funding be provided entirely by the Department of the Environment?
(Wexford): Under the EC directive on freedom of access to information on the environment, information held by a public authority must, with certain exceptions be made available. A number of suggestions have been put to me, for example, that these warnings should be given on weather programmes. This suggestion is being considered by the Meteorological Service. At present the funding is provided by the Department of the Environment.
The Minister seems to be open about this issue and willing to make progress. I referred to the need for urgency. Can the Minister give any indication as to when such a system will come to fruition?
(Wexford): As I said, ongoing discussions are taking place between the Department of Health and the Department of the Environment, and I hope the system will be implemented as quickly as possible.
Will we have it before the by-elections?
Which will come first?
We will have both together.
