Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 March 2023
265. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the independent scientific, safety analyses of chemicals used by Coillte that have been undertaken in each of the past ten years; if he will publish the results of same; if he will publish the list of chemicals used by Coillte and their listed potential and actual side effects, in tabular form in each of the past ten years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11670/23]
View answer267. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of complaints/concerns that have been made by the public about the use of chemicals by Coillte in each of the past ten years, in tabular form; the list of cited medical complaints, if any, deemed by members of the public to be associated with such chemical use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11672/23]
View answer268. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will list the veterinarian and or wildlife inspections of lands planted by Coillte in each of the past ten years, in tabular form; if he will publish any significant illnesses, losses, and impacts identified in each area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11673/23]
View answer269. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department is satisfied as to the safety for humans, flora, fauna and insect life, particularly pollinators of any chemicals used by Coillte; the scientific basis of that satisfaction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11674/23]
View answer270. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what independent and State inspections of air, water-table and watercourses in and adjacent to Coillte forestry have been undertaken in each of the past ten years in relations to chemical use; if he will publish the findings of same, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11675/23]
View answer271. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department is satisfied as to the safety of chemicals used by Coillte; what in-house and external expert examinations of the lands and the chemical processes used on them comprise, and have been undertaken; if he can guarantee them safe to pollinators in particular; if he will publish the results of any examinations undertaken; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11677/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 265, 267, 268, 269, 270 and 271 together.
Coillte is a private limited company established under the Forestry Act 1988 and is operationally independent from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I have referred the individual issues raised to Coillte for direct follow-up with the Deputy.
Coillte use only those plant protection products (PPP) which are fully approved as safe to use in forestry in Ireland by my Department's Pesticide Registration and Control Division. These products will also have been approved by the European Union and are listed on the Approved Pesticide List. The use of Plant Protection Products in the European Union (EU) is regulated by the Regulation No 1107/2009 on Plant Protection Products in cooperation with other EU Regulations and Directives (e.g. the regulation on maximum residue levels in food (MRL); Regulation (EC) No 396/2005, and the Directive on sustainable use of pesticides; Directive 2009/128/EC). DAFM PPP Approval processes conform to these requirements.
