Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 27 September 2023
121. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what measures his Department has in place to protect people from the bark beetle (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41864/23]
View answerI am well aware that Ireland and the rest of the EU is under ever increasing threat from invasive pests and disease. The threat of introduction of harmful organisms (including bark beetles) is significantly increased due to a combination of intensive globalisation of trade in plants and the increasing impact of climate change.
In November 2019, my Department launched a major plant health initiative in its ‘Plant Health and Biosecurity Strategy 2020-2025’ which outlines the importance of plant health biosecurity for Ireland and helps ensure that all stakeholders are aware of the risks to plant health in Ireland, and their role and responsibilities to reduce those risks.
My Department has invested heavily in EU ‘Border Control Posts’ facilities in recent years to allow import control inspections of plants and plant products from non-EU countries.
My Department has substantially increased staff resources in plant health and has established a dedicated Pest Risk Analysis Unit.
Ireland both imports and exports coniferous roundwood. Ireland does not import roundwood from areas known to be affected by bark beetles. The only area that Ireland imports coniferous roundwood from is a Pest Free Area in the West of Scotland.
Imports of roundwood logs from the Pest Free area (PFA) are subject to an inspection regime. All imports from the PFA must be accompanied by a Phytosanitary Certificate.
All forest sector stakeholders have a responsibility for forest health and should ensure they engage in best practice to help prevent the introduction of pests and diseases on plants and plant products.
