THEY KNEW FOR AWEEK
Outrage over hand-sanitiser scandal
THE Government knew for a week that a dangerous hand gel was being used by schoolchildren – but failed to recall it despite tests showing it was unsafe.
In a damning Dáil statement last night, Agriculture Minister Charlie McConalogue revealed his department in fact knew as far back as mid-September that something was wrong with a hand sanitiser that was being used in schools, nursing homes and sold to the public.
By October 8 there were serious indications that something was wrong, and on October 16, conclusive tests within his department confirmed it posed a public health threat. Risks from Virapro
hand sanitiser i nclude dermatitis, eye irritation and even upper respiratory system irritation and headaches, after prolonged use, according to the department’s warning.
Clinical Director of the National Poison Centre Dr Edel Duggan has warned parents to seek advice if their child has exhibited headaches or blurred vision over the past couple of days.
Despite the dangers the gel remained in use and on sale in shops across the country, until a public notice went out late on Thursday night. The ‘chaos’ that ensued with a late-night email to schools and nursing homes, meant that a number of schools did not open their doors yesterday.
The product, which is manufactured in Turkey, contains methanol rather than ethanol and the supplier i s one of 11 companies authorised to provide protective equipment to schools.
Last night Minister McConalogue said his department should have issued a public notice on October 16 and should have informed other Government departments where the product was being used.
He said he had ordered a review so that ‘the system of regulation is robust’. However, Sinn Féin TDs Matt Carthy and Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire said the minister’s statement had raised even more questions. They asked: ‘Why was the product not recalled, or at least the concerns publicised, upon receipt of the OLAF (European Anti-Fraud Office) notification on September 25? Why, when there was concrete evidence last week that this product was dangerous, was this i nformation not i mmediately acted upon?
‘The Minister for Agriculture told the Dáil that he only learned of these developments on Thursday. That exposes a systematic failing within his department. Does the minister have a handle on his department at all? Through all of this debacle, a dangerous product has been widely used in schools and other public settings. There must be accountability for that.’
The revelation has sparked a furious response, with schools and parents demanding to know why they were not informed until late on Thursday night.
Mother Áine Downes, whose daughter was affected by the schools closures yesterday, said: ‘I’m really angry about this, the Minister for Education needs to address this urgently, the buck stops with her. I can’t believe our children have been exposed to
this for nearly a week and no communication with schools or parents.’
A number of schools had to close following the 11pm notification on Thursday night with 120 schools affected.
Parents took to social media to complain yesterday, some stating their children had been in tears when they heard their costume day in school would not go ahead.
Professor Anne Looney, Executive Dean of DCU’s Institute of Education and Chair of St Patrick’s Boys National School in Drumcondra, said: ‘Had we known at 6pm or 7pm we might have been able to open the school today. Not finding out by accident on social media at 11pm. A text or a message or a call might have just meant that we were able to open today, and the kids could have had the day that they were so looking forward to.’
She told Claire Byrne on RTÉ Radio 1: ‘It was 11.20 last night I found myself googling the opening time of the local Woodies because we were down to where were we going to get a supply. I knew that probably local schools would help, and indeed they’ve been in touch this morning but there was too much uncertainty… on balance given the risk and the need to give certainty we made the decision to close.’
The principal of the school, Natasha Bassett, said she found out around 11pm on Thursday, through a notification on social media, and the decision to close was made shortly before midnight. She said she knew it was ‘totally inadequate’ warning for parents to make other arrangements, but no solution could be found in time.
Tim Ó Tuachaigh of Gaelscoil Ros Eo, Rush, said he was notified by email of the recall at 11pm. ‘I had to check if it was the actual sanitiser we use, and it was. And we use the same brand for antibacterial wipes, surface cleanser and handspray... Now it seems everything we use in the school is going to be affected with this,’ he said.
Another principal, who declined to be named, told the Mail last night: ‘It’s a disgrace that these schools are only finding out about this now. The Government have a lot of explaining to do.’
Labour’s Education spokesman Aodhán Ó Ríordáin said he wrote to the chair of the Education Committee to ask to convene an extraordinary meeting next week and to ask Education Minister Norma Foley to attend.
‘This should have been communicated immediately to allow schools to put in place necessary measures to withdraw the product,’ he said.