Vol. 541 No. 2
403 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Health and Children if, in the context of a national emergency plan, iodine tablets will be distributed in order to ensure their immediate availability for use in the event of a nuclear alert. [22210/01]
The national nuclear emergency plan is co-ordinated by the Department of Public Enterprise. I am advised that only the most severe nuclear accidents will require the use of iodine tablets. In most nuclear accident situations staying indoors and avoiding consumption of certain foods that may be contaminated would be the advice given. The necessity of continued stocking of iodine tablets as part of the health input into the national nuclear emergency plan was reviewed as part of an update of the overall plan. It was recommended that new stocks of iodine tablets should be purchased and pre-distributed as a more effective counter measure. I have accepted this recommendation and my Department is making the necessary arrangements for the purchase and distribution of these tablets.
