Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 16 Oct 2001

Vol. 542 No. 2

Written Answers. - National Emergency Plan.

Paul McGrath

Question:

332 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Health and Children if the Irish Medicines Board approved the distribution and use here of iodine tablets for use in the event of nuclear fallout here; if so, the date of this approval; the details of the distribution process which was undertaken by his Department of these tablets; and the situation in this regard. [24286/01]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin)

In January 1991, as a precautionary measure in the event of a nuclear accident, consignments of potassium iodide tablets were distributed to each health board. The tablets were distributed to named officers of the health boards at central locations in each board area, including hospitals, to be held for supply to the public should the need arise. The distribution and use of iodine tablets was not a function of the former National Drugs Advisory Board, since replaced by the Irish Medicines Board.

The necessity of continued stocking of iodine tablets as part of the health input into the national nuclear emergency plan was reviewed as part of an update of the overall plan which is

co-ordinated by the Department of Public Enterprise. It was recommended that new stocks of iodine tablets should be purchased and pre-distributed as a more effective counter measure. I have accepted this recommendation and my Department is making the necessary arrangements as a matter of urgency for the purchase and distribution of these tablets.

With regard to pre-distribution, a number of possible methods are currently under consideration. These include posting a supply to each household or distribution by health boards to households from a central location, or a combination of these. In addition, consideration is being given to holding some stocks centrally as a reserve in the event of tablets being lost or mislaid by individual households. Only the most severe nuclear accidents will require the use of iodine tablets. Ingestion of iodine tablets may be effective in preventing thyroid cancer in certain populations, especially children exposed to radioactive fallout.