Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 November 2012
525. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he is taking to prevent the spread of chalara fraxinea, the fungus that causes ash dieback; the systems in place to measure the effectiveness of the preventative steps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51135/12]
View answerOn the 26th October 2012, I introduced legislation to prohibit the importation into Ireland of plant material from ash dieback infected areas. The measures make it an offence to import ash plants and seed from any country known to have the disease. As the island of Ireland has harmonised plant health status under the EU Plant Health Directive, these legal measures were introduced in conjunction with similar measures taken by the Northern Ireland.
While plants are a higher risk pathway, scientific advice is that the movement of ash timber is also a possible pathway of infection. Legislation on the movement of ash wood was introduced on the 6th November 2012 and will limit the movement of ash wood into the island of Ireland.
The Department has been surveying for Chalara since 2008 and will continue to do so. In fact these surveys are being intensified as the Department are in the process of carrying out an extensive survey of forests with a specific focus on sites planted with imported ash. Specific training for the winter symptoms of ash dieback has been provided to District Forestry Inspectors and horticultural staff. Department Inspectors are also surveying for this disease in garden centres, nurseries and landscape plantings. Our website provides details of the disease and contact phone numbers and an email address for anyone who believes they may have ash with the disease. My Department and Teagasc have prepared a poster on the disease which we intend circulating to every Teagasc, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Coillte and NPWS office in the country as well as other relevant private sector offices. The aim will be to inform people of the symptoms of the disease and so promote a policy of early detection.
Minister McEntee held a number of meetings with Coillte, representatives of the Forestry Sector, the IFA and the hurly makers.
