Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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298. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his proposals regarding the independent review of the issues pertaining to the environmental impact of industrial emissions in Castlecomer, County Kilkenny, as announced by him in Dáil Éireann on 4 July 2024; if he will engage with the farmer affected and the farm organisations to agree a terms of reference and the mechanism of such a review; when a review will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30610/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The deputy will be aware that in response to the July 4th Dail motion on this issue I outlined the very significant resources invested by the State to get to the bottom of the matter, with scientific studies carried out by the Inter-agency group, comprising experts from my Department’s Veterinary laboratories, Teagasc, the South-Eastern Health Board (as it then was), and Kilkenny County Council. The Environmental Protection Agency, as the body with specific expertise and responsibility for monitoring and control of environmental pollution, was also a member of the Group. This joint and combined scientific investigation into Mr Brennan's animal health issues and the wider environment was impartial, detailed, and substantial.

The Final Inter Agency Report, 2010, specifically concluded that there was no evidence of environmental pollution, Cadmium or Fluoride impact on the health of animals on Mr Brennan’s farm. These conclusions were based on wide ranging chemical and pathological analyses of blood and tissues of animals from the farm and from extensive environmental analysis.

I am, however, aware of the stress caused to the Brennan family in relation to the health issues in their herd. In acknowledgement of the work carried out by the Joint Committee for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, I have agreed to seek an independent review of the work carried out by my Department. I will now carefully consider the next steps in this matter, and in the meantime, have asked my department to engage with Mr. Brennan.