Kept in the dark about long-life bulbs hazard

I RECEIVED a brochure from the ESB about having to use long-life bulbs.

It deliberately did not even mention the one most important question about these billions of bulbs containing thousands of tonnes of one of the most deadly poisons in the world — mercury. It will all go into the environment over the next few years and last hundreds of years longer than the bulbs.

I rang the number in the folder (a consumer affairs number) and they agreed it might be a problem and advised me to ring the Department of the Environment. I managed to get through and while they pleasantly did not disagree, they refused point blank to get involved and gave me the number of the Department of Enterprise “because it is now an EU regulation”.

“But it is a grave environmental concern,” I replied. There was no budging. I made no more calls because it is clearly a major cover-up.

Firstly, the fact that the EU can order us to do whatever it wants even though it is bad for us. Secondly, the fact that the coming billions of bulbs do contain a deadly poison and that we should be really scared if we break one.

Thirdly, the fact that the Department of the Environment is incapable of looking after our environment and has handed over responsibility to the Department of Enterprise, certainly here and probably also in Brussels.

Dick Barton

Kevin Street

Tinahely

Co Wicklow