Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 3 Dec 2003

Vol. 576 No. 2

Written Answers. - Meat and Bonemeal Report.

Seán Ryan

Question:

63 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if the interdepartmental agency committee on the disposal options for meat and bonemeal has concluded its deliberations; when its report is expected to come before the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29211/03]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

The committee has concluded its deliberations. I expect to present its report to Government in the near future.

The Irish meat processing sector produces approximately 550,000 tonnes of animal by-products annually in compliance with EU veterinary rules. It is turned into about 150,000 tonnes of MBM at nine Department of Agriculture and Food approved rendering plants. Prior to the onset of BSE, meat and bonemeal was used mainly for animal feed purposes and made a positive contribution to the livestock and meat processing sectors. An EU imposed ban on the use of MBM in feed was introduced at the of 2000. It transformed MBM from a by-product with a significant commercial value to a waste product with a significant disposal cost. There were, and still are, no disposal facilities in Ireland for MBM.

The Irish livestock sector depends on export markets for 90% of its output. The dependence of that sector on relatively expensive MBM disposal outlets abroad has a negative impact on the competitiveness of the sector. I am also keenly aware of the economic benefits derived by other member states from the use of MBM as an energy source in the production of cement and the generation of power.

The time is right for our approach to the use of MBM in the industry and energy sectors to be reconsidered. We could extract maximum value from what is seen as a valuable energy source in many countries.