There is now enormous public concern in the Ringsend-Irishtown-Sandymount-Ballsbridge and south east area of Dublin about plans for a proposed incinerator in Ringsend. For a number of years health care waste has been the subject of increasing concern in the EU. Concerns over the safe management and disposal of health care waste arises as a result of its offensive and potentially hazardous nature. The possible transmission of infectious diseases such as Hepatitis, malaria, HIV through accidental injury by a needle or contact with infected body fluids has attracted particular attention. The handling and disposal of health care waste is a significant issue due to its potential to cause harm and ill health to health care workers and the general public.
I note that in a table of member states categorising the quantities of health care waste arising. Ireland is, surprisingly, second highest on the list. The EU has concluded that segregation at source is the key issue. A group study at EU level concluded that segregation was the key to effective health care waste management. The vital element is strict segregation at source — I emphasise that it is at source — by qualified health care personnel capable of assessing the risk posed by the waste. A project group examining this for the European Union suggested that validated pre-treatment methods for health care risk waste should be encouraged and utilised more widely, if a decrease in risk to human health and in pollution and a reduction in cost is to be achieved.
The public need to get more information on how the Government intends to handle this issue. Public concern is growing as is public awareness of the risks and the environmental issues connected with health care waste. In my constituency the public are asking some very serious questions about this proposed plant. It is clear that Ireland lags behind many countries that are potential member states — Denmark and Austria have made serious efforts to reduce medical waste.
A disturbing picture emerges when we examine the situation in Ireland. I raise this matter tonight because the issue needs to be tackled at national level. A royal commission has reported in the UK on clinical waste disposal. In Ireland we have no legal definition of clinical waste on the Statute Book and practice seems to very enormously in our hospitals. Many hospitals are using old and out of date plant; waste is not monitored and it is unlicensed and unregulated. Some hospitals use their own incinerators and others are exporting hospital waste for example, from Limerick to Manchester. I am calling for a national waste management strategy in this area to help provide a better framework for rational decisions.
In my constituency of Dublin South East, a private company, will develop what is called a health care confidential paper waste disposal by incineration facility on the Pigeon House Road. This request to develop this plant in an urban area beside Dublin Bay and near a local population centre raises serious questions about how we have disposed of waste to date. It means that the Government must outline its plans immediately in this area. Does the Minister for Health support this development? Is he satisfied that all waste from Leinster hospitals should be disposed in the Ringsend area of Dublin? Is he concerned about the health effects and is he satisfied with the waste management strategies employed by Irish hospitals? Has he plans for Irish hospitals to develop an active PVC elimination programme? How is he encouraging the development of alternative technologies? The community in south east Dublin is extremely concerned about the possible siting of this incinerator to dispose of hospital waste from 37 Leinster hospitals and health care facilities. Environmental groups are also dissatisfied.
Is the Minister satisfied that a private company should now fill the vacuum that has been created and operate in the absence of a national plan for the disposal of hospital waste? When does the Minister intend to introduce national standards and guidelines relating to the definition, segregation, storage, handling or disposal of clinical waste? It is said that medical waste incinerators are a major source of toxic air emissions, especially dioxin. A new study in America raises serious questions about the effects of dioxin on health. It is critical that we look at all the technologies so that we can address this problem properly.
There is a plan for a major incineration waste disposal unit in Dublin. Will the Minister indicate whether he feels this is the way forward in the absence of a plan to manage hospital waste? What action does he intend to take to ensure that we have a proper hospital waste management system?
