Vol. 510 No. 5
25 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to recent findings linking exposure to radiation at Sellafield with stillbirths; the implications this may have for stillbirth figures on the east coast; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22841/99]
As the Deputy has not specified the recent findings to which he is referring I cannot comment on them. However, I am advised by the North Eastern Health Board that it is difficult to show any trends in the occurrence of stillbirth either nationally or regionally in Ireland due to the fact that stillbirths were registered for the first time in Ireland in 1995 using a broader definition than previously.
Up to 1994 stillbirths referred to late foetal deaths and were defined as at or over 28 weeks gestation. Since 1995 stillbirth is defined as at or over 500 grams or at a gestational age of 24 weeks or more.
Statistics for 1995 have only recently become available and the number of stillbirths is so small that data for several years will be required to see any trends which could be related to environmental factors.
