The Tánaiste, Ms Harney, refused to be drawn on the restoration of housing grants to deal with radon gas.
She was urged to do so by Mr Emmet Stagg (Labour, Kildare North) during yesterday's Order of Business. Mr Stagg said that the Government had taken rather drastic, and probably correct, action on smoking and cancer-related deaths, of which there were approximately 500 annually.
"Radon gas causes in the region of 300 cancer deaths per year. The report on Castleisland demonstrates the importance of this matter and the severity of the problem. The Radiological Protection (Amendment) Act 2002 makes provision for grants for remedial schemes.
"Is it the Government's intention to activate the relevant section of the Act to allow for the restoration of the grants which it previously abolished ?"
Ms Harney said that the Building Control Bill would be published later this year. "There is no legislation required in respect of grants."
Mr Stagg insisted that legal provision was made for such grants in the act. "Will the Government activate the relevant section or introduce secondary legislation, if required?" he asked
Ms Harney said that it was not a legislative matter.
"It is a budgetary matter. It is, therefore, not a matter for the Order of Business."
After some further exchanges, Mr Stagg remarked: "Money is required and the Government has loads of it."
Earlier, the Green Party leader, Mr Trevor Sargent, failed to get an emergency debate on the issue under standing orders.
