Vol. 530 No. 4
27 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Defence if full medical screening has been given to the 312 Irish soldiers who served in peacekeeping missions in Kosovo in order to alleviate any concerns of the soldiers who served in the Balkans regarding the linkage between depleted uranium and cancer. [3993/01]
As I indicated to the House on 30 January 2001, over 300 Defence Forces personnel, including the current contingent of 104 personnel, have served with the Irish Transport Company in Kosovo as part of KFOR. As a result of recent public concern regarding possible environmental and health risks relating to the use of depleted uranium weapons in the Balkans, the Defence Forces sent an investigative team comprising an Ordnance Corps officer and a medical officer to Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina early last month. Their findings confirm earlier assessments of normal levels of background radiation. Continuous testing of food and water has shown them to be safe and radiation levels in camps occupied by Irish troops were tested and found to be safe. While there, the team liaised with the medical authorities of KFOR and SFOR. On the basis of this and other evidence available to them, the Defence Forces have assessed the threat to the health of the Irish troops in the Balkans as negligible.
Notwithstanding the above, the Defence Forces have put in place a medical screening programme for all Irish troops who have served or are serving in the Balkan region as well as personnel who served as military observers in Kuwait following the Gulf War. All personnel, including those who have retired, are being called to the various brigade centres to undergo the screening. The screening programme commenced last month. This medical screening programme has been put in place to provide reassurance for personnel and their families and includes blood and urine tests along with a clinical examination. A Defence Forces medical officer will depart for Kosovo today to conduct medical screening of the 104 members of the Third Transport Company serving with KFOR who are due to return to Ireland in March 2001.
I thank the Minister for his comprehensive response. There was a lot of concern on this issue which the Minister may have heard in the media at the time. How many people have been screened to date and have any unusual symptoms turned up in the screening process? As the Minister is probably aware, about 13,000 Belgians also served in the Balkans and they found that five personnel had leukaemia while approximately 1,000 others had what were classified as unusual symptoms. They were not specific in regard to the unusual symptoms but perhaps the Minister would indicate if anything unusual is coming out of the medical process.
The concern which the Deputy has expressed has been widespread across Europe and is being closely monitored by all the medical authorities representing the Defence Forces who have served in the region. Despite the most exhaustive contact and liaison with all of the hospitals and the medical authorities, nothing has emerged so far which would lead us to the view that any of our troops were exposed to any threat. However, I do not have the exact numbers who have been screened but in regard to those who have been screened, nothing has been discovered so far.
