14 Dr. Hillery asked the Minister for Health if he will initiate a public awareness campaign on the dangers to life created by lead emissions and lead products or lead-based products.

82 Dr. Hillery asked the Minister for Health if he will initiate a public awareness campaign on the dangers to life created by lead emissions and lead products or lead-based products.

There is already in existence a range of official measures to deal with dangers from lead pollution.

For example, my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, has run a successful public awareness campaign in relation to the desirability of using unleaded petrol over a number of years and the price of unleaded petrol has been reduced to encourage a switch over to the use of such petrol.

Other examples of measures to protect the public from danger of lead include regulations by my Department which lay down limits of lead in foods and beverages, the Safety of Toys Regulations, 1990 made by the Minister for Industry and Commerce and an EC Council Regulation which requires that the seals of wine bottles will not be made of capsules made from lead. Also, the use of lead in jointing techniques for pipes is prohibited by the building Regulations 1991 made by the Minister for the Environment and the application of strict quality standards to all water supplies intended for human consumption includes standards applying to lead content.