Vol. 552 No. 4
20 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Health and Children the position with regard to the pro vision of iodine tablets to the health boards; the number of such tablets currently held by each health board; if it is intended that these will be distributed to the public; the proposed manner of distribution; when the distribution will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12663/02]
A recommendation was made as part of the review of the national nuclear emergency plan, which is co-ordinated by the Department of Public Enterprise, that new stocks of iodine tablets should be purchased and pre-distributed as an effective counter measure. I accepted this recommendation and the Eastern Regional Health Authority, acting on behalf of my Department, notified the European Commission on 19 October 2001 of an invitation to tender for the supply of iodide or iodate tablets.
The procedures laid down under Directive 93/36/EEC, which allow for an accelerated tendering process for the award of public supply contracts, were followed to enable purchase of stocks at the earliest opportunity. A contract for the supply of potassium iodate tablets was awarded to Kelkin limited in Dublin 12 on 21 December 2001. The statutory instrument requiring medicines to have product authorisations was amended to facilitate the placement on the market of these tablets without authorisation. The first consignment of 1.5 million tablets was delivered last week and final deliveries from Kelkin are expected by the end of May.
The Government task force on emergency planning, chaired by the Minister for Defence, has decided to distribute tablets directly to each household through the postal system. As it is necessary to package and label each carton of tablets so it can be distributed safely and securely by post, a further tendering process was necessary for the provision of a mail fulfilment service to perform this function adequately. The ERHA, following the appropriate tendering process under EU legislation, awarded a contract to DC Kavanagh limited in Dublin 8 and SonoPress Ireland limited in Swords business park for the fulfilment of the tablet cartons into purpose designed envelopes. It is envisaged that fulfilment will be completed within ten days of the final delivery of tablets from Kelkin. My Department is liaising with An Post to make the necessary contractual arrangements to ensure the secure delivery of a carton of tablets to each household as quickly as possible thereafter.
I have been advised in relation to stocks which were distributed to health boards in 1991. The Eastern Regional Health Authority has 720,000 tablets which were usable when they were tested 16 months ago. The South-Eastern Health Board has 360,000 tablets which were usable when they were tested in 2000. The North-Eastern Health Board has 180,000 tablets which were usable when they were tested in 1999. The North-Western Health Board has 3,000 untested tablets. The Mid-Western Health Board has 300,000 untested tablets. The Midland Health Board, the Western Health Board and the Southern Health Board have no supplies of iodine tablets.
I do not know how much canvassing the Minister has been doing and perhaps my experience is related to the fact that I am canvassing in County Wicklow, on the east coast, but I am often asked on doorsteps when iodine tablets will arrive. The Minister had to revise promises and commitments that were made in relation to the availability and possible usage of iodine tablets following the events of 11 September, which raised great alarm across the country. Does he accept that it is difficult for people to understand why we are still waiting for supplies of iodine tablets in mid-April, given that the contract was signed last December and that newspapers reported in February, based on information from the Department of Health and Children, that iodine tablets would be available to households by March as part of the upgrading of the national emergency plan for nuclear accidents? It is inexplicable that we must wait for another month or two before tablets are distributed to households. Is it intended to begin distribution before the election?
The date of the election has no bearing on the distribution of iodine tablets. We have to fulfil the contracts signed as part of the tendering process, not only for the manufacture of tablets but also the contract for the mail fulfilment order. As I said, the tender process for the packaging of tablets into cartons amenable to posting them to households will take some time. A decision has been taken to distribute within a set period of time to facilitate a strong advance public advertising programme. When the tablets are about to be delivered, we will be anxious to ensure that people are aware of suitable methods of storing them and that necessary precautions are taken. A sufficient number of tablets have been ordered and 1.5 million have already arrived in the country. We are keen to store a reserve of tablets other than those to be distributed directly to households.
The Minister did not indicate when distribution will commence.
I apologise.
Will the tablets be delivered by An Post, meaning that the Fianna Fáil logo will be on the packages? Many voters are asking such questions.
The Deputy has asked her question and should allow the Minister to conclude.
Is the distribution of iodine tablets to be an election gimmick or is it genuinely a matter of saving lives?
We are running out of time.
With all due respect, the Minister has not said when the process will happen.
I expect that the tablets will be distributed by the beginning of June.
