asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to the prevalence of the giant hogweed in the south County Dublin area; and if he will arrange to have the plant declared a noxious weed.
Written Answers. - Giant Hogweed.
27.
I am aware that the giant hogweed, which is not a species native of this country, has become established in certain areas of south County Dublin in recent years. A study has been undertaken on its incidence here by a member of the staff of the Botany Department, Dublin University and I understand the findings will be published shortly in the bulletin of the Bio-geographical Society. When this is available, my Department will be able to advise the relevant local health and environmental authorities on suitable means to recognise and destroy the weed. This is the correct way to deal with the problem as it falls into the public health-environmental area which is, of course, not primarily the responsibility of the Minister for Agriculture and Food. Hogweed does not create a significant loss in agricultural production and so it would not be appropriate to deal with it under the Noxious Weeds Act.