Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 November 2004
3 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the level of market research and scientific evaluation in her Department undertaken to measure the impact on food production here if the widespread use of municipal and toxic incineration commences. [29613/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy 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.
I thank the Minister for her reply. There is nothing new in that she is reiterating what has been found, which is reassuring for the present. The results are a matter of national pride as well as market advantage because Ireland has lower dioxin levels, particularly in milk samples, than other countries, including Switzerland, Germany, Holland, France and the United Kingdom. Presumably the Minister has made the connection between the results and the fact that those countries are already proponents and operators of incinerators.
Does she accept that there is a need for her Department to articulate a particular concern that, for example, when people talk about ingesting emissions or inhaling dioxins, in fact it is the food chain, that more easily captures dioxin emissions? Is she aware that research has calculated that a litre of milk would deliver as many dioxins as a human would ingest breathing the air next to a cow for eight months. Discussions on incineration need to focus more closely on food than they have done up to now.
Has the Minister spoken to Senator Jim Walsh? He claimed in the Seanad that purchasers of meat from outside this country have specifically asked how close the source is to any incinerator and that a radius of 40 kilometres is given in reply. The importance of the marketability of Irish food in the future should be a matter of concern right now, rather than waiting until incinerators are up and running. Will the Minister be more proactive about it, rather than waiting for reports to arrive on her desk from the Food Safety Authority or the EPA? Will she speak up in the interests of the Irish food industry in advance of any difficulty that might arise?
We carried out a pre-emptive study initially to see what would be the impact of implementation of the waste management policies. It clearly indicated that we have a very low level of dioxins in our food. The most important words to be used are "properly managed" and that is the pre-requisite for any signing off by the FSAI. The proper management of any waste management strategy is paramount.
One takes one's opportunity in the political world to provide an argument for or against something. That is life, as we know it. This issue has not been much part of any debate. I am not enamoured with using the food chain in an argument that can be tangled up into something of which it should not form a part. On the basis that food chain, food supply and food quality are paramount to the Department, we will be vigilant towards the impact that anything would have on our food chain. It is on that basis that this matter will be actively reviewed. We will also be vigilant with regard to any new proposals that will have any negative effect on our food chain. Based on what has been made available to us, we took the proactive step of advising ourselves of any implications. The properly managed aspect of anything is the key.
I did not get any answer there. Has the Minister spoken to or will she speak to Senator Jim Walsh? I will say it to him myself. It is important the Minister has all the facts before going any further.
He is not an expert on the FSAI, but he would be an expert in what he represents, or where he represents.
He is a messenger.
There is a proposal in his part of the world with which he would not be enamoured. All arguments are supportive.
It is national.
I will stick to the big picture.
