Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 425: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the information he has received on the level of risk to the health of persons living in a house where mercury has been released from broken CFL bulbs, particularly as this is of special concern in regard to the welfare of infants and children; and the advice his Department will provide to householders to enable them to safely deal with the release of toxic mercury in the event of breakage. [12977/08]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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The risk to human health arising from accidental CFL breakage is minimal as CFLs containing more than 5mg of mercury are prohibited from being placed on the market in accordance with the provisions of the Waste Management (Restrictions of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Regulations 2005, which transpose Directive 2002/95/EC. My Department has been working with the Environmental Protection Agency and industry stakeholders in developing guidance on best practice for the proper handling and safe disposal of CFLs either at end-of-life or where breakages occur. This process has recently been finalised and a leaflet will be published and made available to members of the public.