Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Irish rendering industry produced 152,000 tonnes of meat and bone-meal (MBM) in 2006.

The use or disposal of this material is strictly controlled under Regulation (EC) No. 1774 of 2002. No MBM is currently being imported.

The bulk of MBM produced continues to be disposed of by way of export for incineration. Approximately 127,000 tonnes was exported during 2006.

Of the remainder, approximately 5,000 tonnes was co-incinerated in the manufacture of cement in this country in 2006; 19,000 tonnes was put into storage for future use or disposal; and 1,400 tonnes was used in the manufacture of petfood.

My policy is to encourage alternative uses of MBM in Ireland and I am aware of proposals to use MBM in the production of fertilizer and also in the generation of electricity. There is a growing interest in using biomass including MBM as a carbon neutral co-fuel in peat-burning electricity plants. Promoting the increased use of MBM in peat stations would deliver financial benefits for the industries involved, reduce disposal costs and represent a significant bioenergy contribution from agriculture. In the recent 'National Bioenergy Action Plan' the Government has targeted 30% co-firing in peat stations by 2015.