MINISTER for Agriculture Charlie McConalogue says a full review is underway after his Department advised that all sanitary products from the ViraPro range.
A recall notice on hand sanitiser being used in schools was issued, resulting in the closure of some schools yesterday.
Donegal-based Deputy McConalogue told the Dáil on Friday that he was only made aware of the issue on Thursday.
There were concerns, he said, that the products contained not enough ethanol and too much methanol.
The frequent use of hand sanitiser containing methanol could cause nausea, dermatitis, eye irritation, upper respiratory tract irritation and headaches.
McConalogue admitted that the warning notice should have been issued a week ago.
The Minister said in the Dáil “I was informed of the situation yesterday for the first time.
“Having reviewed the matter today, I’m very clear it would have been much more appropriate for my department to have followed up with a public notice and communications with other Government departments immediately upon issuing the withdrawal notice to the company on 16th October.”
As soon as the Department of Agriculture provided information and a formal statement, the Department of Education issued an advisory notification to schools.
The Department of Education said that it was necessary to contact all schools because they had not received a list of schools that had purchased the product.
McConalogue said that an investigation is taking place and admitted that more communication could have been issued to other Government Departments.
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