Wednesday, 27 January 2010

Green Party T.D. for Carlow/Kilkenny, Mary White, has attended an EU Parliament Petitions Committee plenary session this afternoon, which has conducted another hearing into the case of Dan Brennan’s farm.

Speaking after this afternoon’s plenary session in Brussels, the Green Party Deputy Leader said: “I’m delighted to have been here in Brussels at the Petitions Committee hearing, and to have supported my constituent, Dan Brennan, as the Committee discussed the most recent report by the Department of Agriculture into the matter. I wrote the petition which was accepted by the Parliament several years ago, and I am glad to be back here again to pursue justice for Dan.

“Whilst the recent report by the Department made some headway on the issues concerning the farm, it is singularly disappointing that the report was unable to reach any definitive conclusions, in particular about the extremely high levels of cadmium found in the animals.

Deputy White added: “I welcome the Committee’s statement this afternoon that they are keeping this case open, that they have criticised the European Commission for accepting the Department’s report, and that they will liaise further with the Department and Dan Brennan so that causes will be found for the toxicity on his farm. Dan, his veterinary team and I were pleased with the level of questioning and interest on display from the Committee today, in particular their shock at the high levels of cadmium found in the animals. They share our determination that the source of cadmium must be pinpointed and we welcome the Committee’s plans to put forward a resolution with a specified timeline for a response from the Irish authorities. I look forward to the Department of Agriculture’s response to the Committee’s views.”

[ENDS]

Filed under: Environment