Vol. 467 No. 4
79 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for Health the alternative plans, if any, in hand by his Department to accommodate the substantial volume of hospital wastes that will no longer be accepted by the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13353/96]
94 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for Health if he will give details of his functions in relation to hospital waste; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13312/96]
95 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to new United Kingdom regulations that prohibit the issuing of further transboundary shipment permits by the relevant United Kingdom authorities in relation to the shipment of Irish hospital waste; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13313/96]
96 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for Health the existing arrangements for the transport of hospital waste from Ireland to the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13314/96]
97 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for Health the hospitals that ship waste to the United Kingdom for disposal; the amounts of waste in respect of each hospital for the last full year for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13315/96]
98 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for Health the total amount of hospital waste shipped from Ireland to the United Kingdom; the total waste in respect of each hospital that will not be exempt under the derogation in the new United Kingdom regulations for Ireland and Portugal in respect of waste that requires high temperature incineration of over 1,100 degrees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13316/96]
99 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the arrangement for shipping Irish hospital waste to the United Kingdom; the number of companies involved; the number, extent and duration of transboundary shipment permits remaining to those companies in respect of Irish hospital waste; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13317/96]
100 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for Health the plans, if any, he has for tendering for new technology to replace previous facilities in hospitals for disposing of hospital waste; the stages in the tendering process that have been completed to date; the stages to be completed; when it will be completed; whether he has issued specifications or Protocols in relation to the new technology to be used; whether the siting of the plant is a matter for his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13318/96]
101 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for Health the steps, if any, he has taken to notify hospitals and health boards of the changed situation in the United Kingdom in relation to acceptance of most types of hospital waste from Ireland as of 1 June 1996. [13319/
Limerick East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 94 to 101, inclusive, together.
My Department has an overall policy role in relation to all aspects of the operation of hospital services, including the generation and proper management of health care waste. Responsibility for the day-to-day management of such waste is directly a matter for the hospital authorities concerned in consultation with the relevant local authorities.
I am aware that the United Kingdom Department of the Environment has issued a Management Plan for Exports and Imports of Waste, which has, as a general presumption, that waste should not be imported into the United Kingdom for disposal. My colleague, the Minister for the Environment, has confirmed in reply to a separate question today that the management plan has, in response to a submission made by his Department, allowed for continued exports of wastes requiring high temperature incineration on an indefinite basis. My Department will continue to monitor the situation closely and the health agencies will be kept informed of developments.
Hospitals which do not have local treatment and disposal facilities available to them have tended to make arrangements with private waste management companies to have their waste disposed of in incinerators in Britain which are licensed to treat clincial waste.
The detailed information which the Deputy is seeking in relation to the hospitals that export waste to the United Kingdom, quantities of waste involved, companies involved, shipment permits etc. is not available in my Department.
