Eamon Ryan (Dublin South, Green Party)
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Question 92: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she is examining the possibility of making safe use of digestate from anaerobic digestion in view of the fact that Denmark and Britain both permit spread of digestate; and if so, the outcome of her examinations. [14231/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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As I announced on 16 March last, I am making arrangements within my Department to facilitate the use of certain animal by-products in composting and biogas plants. These arrangements are being introduced primarily in the context of EU legislation that allows the digestate produced in such plants to be spread on non-pastureland. In coming to a decision on this, I have had regard to the declining numbers of BSE cases here and the need to provide productive outlets for the disposal of certain animal by-products where this does not pose a risk to public or animal health. The relevant national legislation is currently being amended to facilitate this.