Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 January 2005
22 Ms Burton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food her views on the inquiry by the British Environmental Agency into allegations that Ireland illegally transported hazardous waste containing a high risk of BSE infection to the UK; if her Department has co-operated with that inquiry; if that inquiry has concluded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1915/05]
View answerI am not aware of the inquiry mentioned by the Deputy. My Department is the authority responsible for the control of exports of animal by-products and it has received no inquiries from the British Environmental Agency in relation to such exports. My Department has also established that the competent authorities with responsibility for the export of material covered by waste legislation from Ireland, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Environmental Protection Agency have not dealt with an inquiry by the British Environmental Agency in relation to the export to the UK of material containing a risk of BSE infection.
I can confirm that there are ongoing exports of meat and bone meal — MBM — and tallow from Ireland to the UK for co-incineration as a fuel at a premises approved by the UK authorities for that purpose. As the Deputy is aware, it is necessary for this material to be exported from Ireland to other member states as there are no approved facilities here for its disposal.
The exports of MBM and tallow are regulated in accordance with the EU legislation on animal by-products, Council Regulation 1774/2002. That regulation requires the agreement of the member state of destination to accept such exports and provides for an ongoing system of notification by my Department to the UK authorities prior to the dispatch of each consignment to the UK.
The requirements of the regulation have been followed in relation to the movement of MBM and tallow to the UK. I do not accept, therefore, any allegation that Ireland has illegally transported MBM, tallow or any other animal by-products to the UK.
