John Ellis
Question:126 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if the source the recent outbreak of fireblight has been identified. [4790/95]
Written Answers. - Fireblight Outbreak.
John Ellis
Question:127 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the number of cases of fireblight found in each of the years 1990 to 1995; the action, if any, he proposes to take to deal with the problem; and the mechanism he has put in place to monitor the problem. [4791/95]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 126 and 127 together.
Three cases of fireblight were found in 1990, two in 1991, one in 1992, five in 1993 and 31 in 1994. The disease is dormant over the winter months and sampling will not commence until new growth appears. Consequently, no cases have been confirmed so far this year.
The disease was found mainly on long established plants during 1994 and it was not possible to determine the source of the infection. My Department has served the statutory destruction notice on the owners of the infected plants and imposed quarantine restrictions on all host plants in the vicinity of the infection. The trade and general public have been alerted to the need for extra vigilance and invited to submit samples of suspicious plants. The help of local authorities has also been enlisted in carrying out systematic surveys of all host plants under their control. As in previous years, my Department will continue to monitor the situation and this will include a full survey of all nurseries trading in host material in 1995.