asked the Minister for Health the emergency plans which have been made for immediate health care in the event of a nuclear disaster.
Written Answers - Nuclear Disaster Emergency Plans.
11.
If the Deputy, in using the phrase "a nuclear disaster" envisages the dropping of a nuclear bomb or bombs on this country or the occurrence of an event of equivalent proportion in close proximity to this country, then I would have to say that it is highly improbable that it would be possible to provide immediate health care for the survivors of such a disaster. I am sure that in that the Deputy will agree that the only practical action that we, as a small neutral country can take, is to try to ensure in the international fora to which we have access that such a contingency does not come about.
So far as nuclear accidents are concerned, the action necessary in any particular case will be determined by the nature, kind and location of the nuclear incident. In the case of the recent Chernobyl disaster the extent of radioactive fallout over this country was low and did not in general increase to a marked extent the background radiation to which we are normally exposed. Needless to state at this stage my grave concern about any such incident is in no way diminished by the relatively low level of fallout.
Should a similar situation arise in future, in which fallout was such that medical care was necessary, provision for it would be made in accordance with emergency plans which all health boards have drawn up to deal with serious incidents involving deaths or injury or serious disruption of essential services. These plans envisage, in general, making available the accommodation, facilities and medical staffs to provide such treatment services as are appropriate in the case of any specific incident. I should say that, in relation to incidents involving radioactive fallout, the service to be provided would primarily consist of advice about avoidance of exposure to contamination and about safe supplies of food and drink.
As the Deputy will be aware, it has been agreed to provide additional staff and equipment for the Nuclear Energy Board to enable better arrangements to be made for the monitoring of radiation in the environment and to be able to cope in future with any incidents similar to the recent one. The interdepartmental committee, which has been set up by the Tánaiste to co-ordinate actions in the wake of the Chernobyl accident, is continuing to meet to monitor the present position. The Department of Health is represented on this committee. It will also, in the coming weeks, consider the adequacy of existing arrangements to cope with problems such as those which have arisen during the past few weeks.