Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 428: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when farmers who have had their animal population depopulated due to the dioxin feed situation, and who have been appropriately compensated, will be allowed to resume normal farming activities such as purchasing cattle to fill sheds they have at their disposal; if it is the position that his Department is withholding its consent to such farmers to renew normal farming, until the situation with possible dioxin contamination of slurry is clarified; if so, if this decision will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7486/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Following receipt of PCB and/or dioxin positive test results, movement restrictions were placed on 26 cattle farms and a decision taken to slaughter the cattle on those farms that had been or may have been exposed to contaminated feed. Arising from this, 25 herds have been fully depopulated and one herd had a partial depopulation. Slaughtering of the affected animals has been completed and I would like to put on record my appreciation to the farmers involved for their co-operation in this regard.

Officials in my Department have been in consultations with the EU commission, the EPA and the FSAI and an agreed approach with regard to the spreading of slurry from restricted farms has been adopted. Farmers have been advised and I understand that slurry spreading has commenced. Officials in my Department have completed a protocol covering the de-restriction of holdings once certain conditions are complied with. These conditions relate to the removal and slaughter of all affected cattle, the removal of contaminated feed, the decontamination of feed storage areas and removal of potentially affected slurry from tanks. This protocol is being issued to farmers involved and once they have complied with the necessary requirements, the farms will be derestricted