Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 May 1995

Vol. 453 No. 3

Written Answers. - Organic Phosphate Sheep Dips.

Eoin Ryan

Question:

174 Mr. E. Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the nature and number of complaints received by his Department regarding the use of organic phosphate sheep dips as referred to in his reply to Parliamentary Question No. 97 of 16 May 1995; when such complaints were received; the action, if any, that was taken on foot of these complaints; the communications, if any, that have been exchanged between his Department and the National Drugs Advisory Board on this issue; whether the Department of Health keeps in close contact with his Department and other relevant agencies under his Department's aegis on aspects of the agricultural industry which would have implications for human health, especially in relation to this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9349/95]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. Yates)

Departmental records indicate that two persons have been in contact with the Department — in 1989 and 1993 — in the matter of the effect of sheep dip on their health. In relation to the 1993 case, my Department arranged with the relevant local authority that the flockowner in question would be issued a certificate of exemption from diping under Article 12 of the Sheep Dipping Order, 1965, on account of his medical condition. In the 1989 case the person concerned was contemplating litigation against a third party without Derpartmental involvement and, accordingly, no further action was taken. My Department keeps in close contact with the Department of Health and other relevant agencies on aspects of the agricultural industry which would have implications for human health. Following consultation with the National Drugs Advisory Board in 1994, my Department reduced the number of approved sheep dips from 17 to six. Additionally, the National Drugs Advisory Board recently authorised an injectable product for the treatment of sheep scab and is currently considering an application for authorisation for a further injectable product on which successful trials were carried out by my Department in consultation with the manufacturer concerned. These products are substitutes for dips.