Deputy Gerard Brady has been given permission to raise on the Adjournment the matter of the Windscale project arising from a recent report.
Adjournment Debate. - Effects of Windscale Radioactivity.
At the start of this debate I should like to point out some facts that may not be realised in relation to Down's Syndrome in this country. Ireland has the highest incidence of Down's Syndrome in Europe and perhaps this can be explained by virtue of the fact that many babies are born to older women. The incidence of Down's Syndrome occurring is in the order of one in 650. That statistic is high enough but where there is Down's Syndrome in a family that incidence increases to one in 100.
In itself that is bad enough. The recent well-researched report by Dr. Sheehan and Professor Hillery mentions that there can be some connection with the radioactive fallout from Windscale. In the Irish context we have to make a very close examination of the entire project that is going on beside us. The Minister represents a maritime constituency and I am sure he realises that the sir in Dublin city and county has a very bad level of pollution from high levels of sulphur dioxide, lead in the atmosphere and now the insidious, silent, creeping high level of radioactivity.
On 7 July last, when I first raised this matter in a midnight debate in this House, I was accused of being alarmist. I was told that in Ireland there was no real cause for concern and that there was nothing to be bothered about because effluent emissions into the air and sea were within the levels of EEC strictures. I do not accept that and in view of the fact that more attention is being given to this most serious problem — I know the Minister is sympathetic — we have an opportunity now of doing something practical about it.
I put to the Minister some practical suggestions that he can take in his Department. In order to maintain the momentum of public attention that has been focused on this matter, I should like him immediately to organise a delegation to go to Windscale. I should like to see that an all-party mission and also consisting of experts from the Department. In this way there could be an on-the-spot, fact-finding mission, where people could see with their own eyes what was happening instead of just reading about it or listening to reports about it. For far too long we have blandly accepted British assurances — I might add vested interests — on that awful cesspit across the water. I make no apology for my unambiguous fellings on the matter: I think the plant should be closed down. However, if that cannot be done, at least we should exert the maximum pressure.
Another suggestion would be that within the Department the Minister should set up a research unit to monitor, examine and study the long-term effects of low-level radiation. This is a matter that is being put to one side, without realising the awful long-term effects it could have, either in the matter of genetic defects, mutations, or mongoloid chidren. Just to speak about Down's Syndrome alone is only a part of the problem. We can also think of other blood diseases such as leukaemia which have been chronicled in other countries that are in close proximity to plants emitting radioactivity. There is the case of the Hebrides off Scotland where a great increase in leukaemia was attributed to a flow of tide from the proximity of the Windscale project. We also have reports of many nuclear submarines going through the Irish Sea. There is a constant build-up of radioactivity in that area.
As the Minister realises, plutonium is absorbed directly into the bone, another aspect of a disease that can come from radioactivity levels. The brief reference that the Minister realised the Windscale project was discussed at the summit meeting between the Taoiseach and the British Prime Minister will not do. We have to highlight the whole question by getting down to practical action. I put those suggestions to the Minister.
I would emphasise that there is very little preparedness for any type of major calamity which might occur as a result of another fire at Windscale or some kind of major nuclear accident or explosion. I do not know how the Irish nation would perform in such an event. The most recent example of panic occurred during the big freeze-up two years ago when people literally fought one another for food. There is no psychological awareness of how we would cope with any type of accident which would involve an increase in radiation levels. The nation is not addressing itself in a practical way to this problem. People ask what could be done about it if a major accident occurred. The Minister's Department could engage in a campaign to alert people as to what they could do to help themselves in such a situation.
The authorities at Windscale have given assurances that there has been a reduction in levels of radioactivity since 1974. The main emphasis of my contribution relates to the long-term effect of the emission of radiation. Any doctors to whom I have spoken about this matter during the past week have told me that this is a major worry. There is no knowing what the long-term effect will be and very little research is being done in this area. It is true that monitoring is taking place and there are strictures within the EEC but this is not enough.
The Minister has a difficult portfolio and I realise he has the best interests of our citizens at heart. We see how people in England are reacting to the arrival of Cruise missiles. People are arriving at the House of Commons with samples of mud from Windscale. They are becoming more aware of the enormity of the problem. They may feel helpless and feel there is nothing they can do, but Parliaments can take some firm action on these matters. The public will not allow us simply to talk about the problem. Reactive politics will no longer do. There must be a positive approach involving action now.
The Minister may admit in his reply that he could be faced next week or next month with reports of the incidence of Down's Syndrome or some type of cancer attributable to radioactive pollution coming directly from England to this island by tidal flow or wind change. Perhaps the Minister will say whether he intends to organise in his Department a delegation which could go to England to study these matters at first hand. How many officials of his Department have travelled to Windscale and are familiar with the emissions from that area? I know this has been the province of the Nuclear Energy Board but I am speaking purely in regard to health matters, not in regard to the establishment of a nuclear reactor or a service to register radioactivity. There should be a research unit within the Department to look into the whole question of associated diseases caused by radioactive fallout or contamination of any kind.
There is also the matter of increasing public awareness of the lack of preparedness. I do not want to involve this nation in any major cost but the immense cost of a lack of preparedness would be too awful to measure in terms of money. It would cost very little to give effect to the suggestions I have made. Many of us who are interested in this matter would be quite prepared to pay our own expenses in going to Windscale to see exactly what is going on there. I am far from satisfied about it. The problem will only get worse as years go on. The initiative now lies with the Minister.
I referred in my written reply today to the recent edition of the British Medical Journal of 12 November, 1983, Volume 287. It contains a report on a cluster of births of Down's Syndrome babies and I indicated that a link between the births and a fire which occurred at Windscale in 1957 had not been established. The possibility that there was such a link was suggested by the authors of the report, one of whom I have met. The report stated:
We are left with a nagging doubt that possible exposure to radiation associated with some infection had an adverse influence on the subsequent non-disjunction of chromosome 21 in their six babies.
There is a possibility that the cluster of births was influenced by some other unknown indirect factor such as a virus infection. As the authors of the report stated, we are dealing with a hypothesis at this stage and it will require further research and investigation. In order to examine the matter further, I have asked the Radiation Advisory Committee of the Nuclear Energy Board, a specialist sub-committee which advises me on medical aspects of radiation, to consider the report and to let me have their views as soon as possible.
My Department have also requested the directors of Community Care in the health board areas on the east coast to review the situation in their areas and to establish whether or not similar incidents have occurred. As the Deputy is aware, the Nuclear Energy Board have also been asked by the Minister for Industry and Energy to make a further report on the current emissions from Windscale. Having regard to the forthcoming review by the UK authorities of authorised discharges from Windscale, it is intended to make specific points to the British, based on this report. In my contacts with my counterpart in the UK, I will raise a number of issues, including this report. Meanwhile, I am waiting for the two reports which I sought, namely, that of the Radiation Advisory Committee of the Nuclear Energy Board and the directors of Community Care. In the light of these reports any further necessary research will be undertaken to establish the validity of the hypothesis and whether a public health risk exists which could be associated with radiation or virus infection or a combination of both.
I can assure the House that these matters will be examined with expediency — I make the point that the report was published on 12 November — and that relevant research bodies here will be involved, where appropriate, to establish the factual situation relevant to this hypothesis. As I have already mentioned, I have been in touch with the directors of Community Care in relation to this report. Through the system which they operate I can assure the House that from an epidemiological point of view facilities exist to further investigate any possible similar circumstances which may come to light.
In so far as the general monitoring of radiation is concerned, I have shared the Deputy's concern for many, many years. The House will be aware that this is the responsibility of the Nuclear Energy Board and they have made arrangements for regular monitoring of levels of radiation within the country and in the surrounding seas. There is also a Radiation Advisory Committee within the Nuclear Energy Board which advises on the medical aspects of levels of radiation and of any possible consequences of these levels. To date, based on the information available, it is clear that the levels of radiation reported do not constitute a hazard to the health of the people of this country. They are well within the limits which have been set out by the International Commission on Radiological Protection and in a directive of the European Economic Community. The board will be continuing their constant monitoring of the situation and I shall be keeping in close touch with my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, to ensure that the position continues to be examined.
I appreciate the point which the Deputy raised this evening. My colleagues in Government and I are very concerned about the possible effects of dumping of nuclear waste and of discharge of nuclear waste into the Irish Sea. It is imperative that we keep in touch on a regular basis with the authorities in the UK and with international authorities generally so that we can contribute, in so far as we can, to any agreements which may be reached to reduce to the maximum possible extent the levels of radioactivity occuring in our environment, especially in the seas which surround us.
I assure the House that the capacity exists within the health services to fully investigate the validity of the hypothesis which has been put forward. I am assured that in my efforts to fully investigate the situation I will have the advice and assistance of the research workers and the various Government bodies which are concerned with the possible effects of radiation on the general public health.
Regarding the possibility of a deputation from within the particular area referred to, the report relates extensively to the North Eastern Health Board area and if that health board wishes to organise a deputation to review the situation they are free to do so. However, I intend, in the normal inter-governmental exchange of contact, to seek further information on the current position regarding Windscale. The Deputy will be made aware of any information of consequence which we receive. My colleagues, the Minister for the Environment and the Minister or Industry and Energy and I will co-ordinate our activities, as we now do, to ensure that the issues correctly raised by the Deputy will have full Government attention.
Have the Minister's officials seen the plant?
My officials do not have access to the plant.
The Dáil adjourned at 8.30 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 22 November 1983.