The Minister for Agriculture says his department has made a major breakthrough in tracing the source of the horse meat found in Irish beefburgers.

Simon Coveney told a news conference this evening that an ingredient sourced from Poland, and used at the plant for the past year is highly likely to have been the cause of the contamination.

He said positive test results from three burgers produced at the plant since January contained a common ingredient sourced from Poland.

The product is beef filler made up of fat cuts and trims which had been supplied to Silvercrest in Monaghan for the past year.

The Minsiter says management at the plant in Monaghan is to be changed, all the meat produced there will be removed, and future product will only be sourced from Ireland and the UK.