My Department is not directly responsible for decisions concerning the use of municipal and toxic incineration. These matters are handled through the planning authorities under the aegis of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The Environmental Protection Agency also has a major role in this area. In November 2003, the Food Safety Authority published a report entitled Waste Incineration and Possible Contamination of the Food Supply with Dioxins. Several studies carried out by the authority over the three years prior to that on foods likely to be contaminated by these environmental pollutants concluded that levels in Irish-produced foods are extremely low and that consumers of these foods are not at risk. This is reflected at different points in the food chain. Ireland continues to have lower dioxin levels in the environment than most other European countries.
The report goes on to state:
In relation to the possible impact of introduction of waste incineration in Ireland, as part of a national waste management strategy, on this currently largely satisfactory situation, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland considers that such incineration facilities, if properly managed, will not contribute to dioxin levels in the food supply to any significant extent. The risks to health and sustainable development presented by the continued dependency on landfills as a method of waste disposal far outweigh any possible effects on food safety and quality.
The European Commission's strategy for dioxins, furans and polychlorinated biphenyls aims to reduce human exposure at safe levels in the medium to long term, with a quantitative objective to reduce human intake levels below 14 pico grams WHO-toxicity equivalence per kilogram bodyweight per week. This year, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland in collaboration with my Department monitored dioxin occurrence in meat, offal, fruit, vegetable, cereals and dairy produce. A similar exercise was carried out on eggs in 2003. I understand there is a study under way on fish.
The results of these surveys indicate that the levels found are well below the existing EU maximum levels and will also be below the proposed levels, which will include levels for dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls. I am satisfied that there is no risk to the safety and quality of food produced in Ireland. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland report referred to earlier also stated that: "as part of an overall waste management strategy, as reflected in the EC Waste Hierarchy, incineration coupled with waste prevention, reduction, recycling and other treatment methods is the preferred option". My colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, is actively pursuing an integrated waste management approach, which is the practice used by the best waste performers in Europe and reflects the internationally recognised waste management hierarchy.