Waste Disposal

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 May 2012

Tuesday, 15 May 2012

Questions (334)

John McGuinness

Question:

414 Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action he has taken regarding the disposal of waste from a site at (details supplied) in County Carlow relevant to the dioxin crisis of 2008; if his Department will fund the disposal; if he is in consultation with other parties regarding the method and cost of disposal; if the EU will cover the cost; if the correspondence of the 13 May 2011 to Minister Paul Kehoe TD has been considered and if so if he will respond in detail to each issued raised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24059/12]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney)

The recycling plant at Ballybrommell, Fenagh, Co. Carlow was closed at the time of discovery of the dioxin incident and restrictions placed on the contaminated feed. Consent was given in November 2011 by the UK Environment Agency for movement of the contaminated material from the Fenagh site to the UK for use in a Power Station. DAFM released the material for transfer to the UK facility in line with consent from the National Trans Frontier Shipment Office, Environmental Protection Agency and Carlow County Council when final details of the transfer became available. The site was finally cleared on 22 March 2012.

The disposal of contaminated feed is the responsibility of the Feed Business Operator involved, as provided by Article 20 of Regulation (EC) No. 178/2002 and Annex II of Regulation (EC) No. 183/2005.

With regard to the letter of 13 May 2011 referenced in the question, I am not in a position to comment on communications between third parties.