Vol. 558 No. 6
114 Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources the person who gave Coillte Teoranta permission to spray lindane from 1988 to 2000; if its effects were known at the time such permission was granted; if not, when they became known; the reasons cited for its discontinuance; if there has been an investigation into the effects of its use on human health and the environment; and if not, if an investigation is planned. [25328/02]
The Department of Agriculture and Food is the regulatory authority for approving plant protection products for use in Ireland. While I have no function in the approval of such products or their use by bodies under my aegis, I understand from Coillte Teoranta that, in addition to conforming with all statutory requirements, it applies very strict internal procedures in the application of pesticides.
I also understand from Coillte that plant protection products containing lindane were replaced by plant protection products containing permaset from 1 January 1999. The use of lindane from 1988 to 1 January 1999 was in accordance with EU Directive 91/414 and the implementing regulation. An essential element of regulation is the review process. Following a review in July 2000 the Commission published a decision to exclude lindane from the list of acceptable plant protection products in December 2000.
