John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 545: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action he has taken regarding the disposal of waste from a site (details supplied) in County Carlow, relevant to the dioxin crisis of 2008; if he will fund the disposal; if he is in consultation with other parties regarding the method and cost of disposal; if the EU funds will cover the cost; if the correspondence (details supplied) has been considered; if so, if he will respond to each issue raised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36275/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The material referred to by the Deputy is the feed material that was impounded in the premises and also the feed that was recalled from farms by officials of my Department at the time of the detection of the dioxin contamination. In accordance with SI 432 of 2009 on Food and Feed Hygiene governing, inter alia , the disposal of the contaminated material, the obligation is on the Feed Business Operator to submit proposals for consideration by my Department. A number of proposals which were submitted were examined and my Department indicated that it had no objections, subject to compliance with Regulations regarding the disposal of such material. The Feed Business Operator concerned is now in the final stages of having the material exported to the UK for incineration.

In accordance with the above Regulation, responsibility for disposal of contaminated material and all associated costs, must be borne by the Feed Business Operator concerned. The issues raised in the letter referred to have been considered by my Department and I am satisfied that matters raised therein have been addressed in various correspondence between both parties.