Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 238: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the total amount paid under the pigmeat recall scheme for 2009 and to date in 2010; the closing date of the scheme; the amount of the scheme financed by the EU; the number of companies that have benefited from this scheme; the action the Department has taken to ensure that payments were not made for imported pork products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36559/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The agreement concluded with pig processors in December 2008 involved making available a facility of up to €180 million to assist processors in funding the recall and destruction of certain pork products from the market. The closing date for the Pigmeat Recall scheme was 16th April 2010. A total of €100m has been paid out under the Scheme to date: €35m in 2008, €55m in 2009 and €10m in 2010. Cofunding in the sum of €8m was provided by the EU in respect of some 7,500 tonnes of affected pigmeat product. A total of 120 companies benefited from the scheme.

As regards imported pigmeat, the position is that no compensation was paid on product which could be shown to be wholly derived from pigmeat of foreign origin. All such product which could be identified was released back to the market. However, if the product was comprised of a mix of Irish and foreign pigmeat, it all had to be recalled and destroyed, even if it contained only a small proportion of Irish meat. This was specifically provided for in the Scheme in the best interests of public health and the restoration of public confidence. In addition to the payments a further €28.3m has been paid out in respect of culling of affected herds bringing the total expenditure to date to €128.3m.