Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 200: To ask the Minister for Health and Children her views on WHO reports that 13% of lung cancer cases here are caused by radon gas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6274/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Based on the recent studies in relation to radon exposure, the WHO has established an International Radon Project (IRP) in which over 20 countries, including Ireland have formed a network of partners to identify and promote programmes that reduce the health impact of radon. The IRP will be issuing detailed recommendations on radon risk reduction which will be examined by my Department in due course.

The vast majority of lung cancer deaths, including those deaths that are linked to radon, are among people who smoke, and non-smokers are at a low risk of contracting the disease. Programmes aimed at smoking cessation will help to maintain this fall in smoking rates among adults and will give rise to a significant reduction in the lung cancer deaths in future years. The Office of Tobacco Control support my policy by discharging a variety of functions including conducting research into tobacco and communicating the findings, organising a national inspection programme and enforcing the tobacco control laws generally.

However the priority is to continue with the identification and remediation of homes with higher concentrations of radon to ensure that the current figures can be lowered.