MLA CRITICISES 'INAPPROPRIATE' MERCURY FILLINGS BAN EVIDENCE GIVEN TO COMMITTEE

​Evidence given to a Stormont committee suggesting a failure to ban mercury fillings in Northern Ireland would represent a violation of the Good Friday Agreement has been branded inappropriate by a DUP MLA.
By Jonathan McCambridge, PA
Published 19th Apr 2024, 08:06 BST
MLA criticises  'inappropriate' mercury ban evidence given to committee Photo: Martin Rickett/PA WireMLA criticises  'inappropriate' mercury ban evidence given to committee Photo: Martin Rickett/PA Wire
MLA criticises  'inappropriate' mercury ban evidence given to committee Photo: Martin Rickett/PA Wire

Joanne Bunting objected to remarks from a representative of the World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry which she said was “threatening” MLAs with action from the US government.

It came as a Department of Health official told Stormont's Windsor Framework democratic scrutiny committee that the proposed EU ban on dental amalgam fillings would have cost implications for taxpayers and patients.

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The committee is carrying out preliminary investigations on the consequences for Northern Ireland of any amalgam prohibition.

DUP MLA Joanne BuntingDUP MLA Joanne Bunting
DUP MLA Joanne Bunting

The EU is set to prohibit the use of amalgam from January 2025 as part of a health drive to reduce public exposure to mercury.

Under post-Brexit trading rules, aspects of EU law still apply in Northern Ireland.

Some member states will be able to avail of an 18-month derogation if it can be demonstrated the law change would have a disproportionate socio-economic effect on low-income households.

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Representatives from the British Dental Association (BDA) have already warned that the proposed amalgam ban could lead to the collapse of NHS dentistry in Northern Ireland.

Representatives from the World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry appeared before the committee yesterday.

Florian Schulze urged MLAs not to use the Stormont brake mechanism over the amalgam ban.

And giving evidence from Washington DC, Charles Brown invoked the 1998 Good Friday Agreement as he said Northern Ireland should move towards mercury-free dentistry.

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He said: “The EU is not going to accept this, the Irish Parliament is not going to accept this, this idea of saying we are going to keep within the EU trade area mercury fillings.”

Ms Bunting then read from written evidence provided to the committee which said the World Alliance for Mercury-Free Dentistry was “prepared to file a petition with the US State Department asking for my government to investigate a violation of the Good Friday Agreement”.

Ms Bunting said: “I do feel that was inappropriate.”

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Related topics:Northern Ireland

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