Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 February 2006
364 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the source of her information regarding the New Zealand flatworm (details supplied) that indicated that the feared effects of flatworm populations had not occurred; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7806/06]
View answerWith regard to my previous reply on this matter I wish to state that the primary source of information regarding the New Zealand flatworm and its impact on the earthworm population was based on a study carried out in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. This was a joint study carried out by the Central Science Laboratory, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, UK, with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Northern Ireland, DARDNI and the Scottish Crop Research Institute, entitled Biological and Ecological Studies of the New Zealand Flatworm, Arthurdendyus Triangulatus: Towards a Comprehensive Risk Assessment for the UK. The report of the study is published by Central Science Laboratory, Sand Hutton, York YO41 1LZ, UK.
