Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 315: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he will request the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland to investigate the mystery illness of former Russian Premier Yegor Gaidar on his Irish visit, in view of the fact that news of his illness comes after a series of mysterious incidents involving Russian public figures over the past month; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41873/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The functions of the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland, as set out in law, include advising "the Government, the Minister (for the Environment Heritage and Local Government), and other Ministers of the Government and the public, on measures for the protection of individuals in the State from radiological hazards".

In the case referred to in this Question, there was no evidence, as far as the RPII was aware, that linked Mr. Gaidar's illness to radiation poisoning. Connolly Memorial Hospital and the Garda, who were investigating the illness, adopted a precautionary approach despite neither having any evidence of radiation being involved. Accordingly, they requested the RPII to undertake monitoring of locations in the hospital and in the NUI, Maynooth in order to provide reassurance to the public. The RPII undertook the necessary monitoring on 1 December 2006. The results of the monitoring did not show any abnormal radiation levels. This information was conveyed to the hospital and the Gardaí by the RPII.