Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 February 2024
399. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a comprehensive disease risk analysis was carried out regarding fireblight erwinia amylovora infections by his Department prior to the November 2023 relaxation on the requirement for use of native provenance plants or plants of Irish origin under the ACRES scheme; and if so will he make a copy available. [5328/24]
View answerMy Department conducts annual plant health surveillance checks for plant pests and diseases, including Erwinia amylovora (Fireblight).
Ireland is recognised as having a favourable plant health status and has the highest number of protected zones in the EU, with 23 pests and diseases listed. A protected zone is a region in which a harmful organism which has established in one or more parts of the EU is not present in that region. Ireland (except Galway city) has protected zone status for Fireblight (Erwinia amylovora (Burrill) Winslow et al.).
The amendment to the specifications for the ‘Planting a New Hedgerow’ action within the ACRES scheme relates to Whitethorn species only, in respect of which the requirement for Irish provenance and Irish origin was removed. The amendment was made, following representations from stakeholders, to address supply demands.
Whitethorn is a host plant for the disease Erwinia amylovora. Whitethorn plants, if imported into a protected zone, are subject to import requirements, as follows:
• Imports from another Member State are required to be notified to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine no more than 48 hours after their arrival.
• Imports from third countries, with the exception of certain third countries where imports are prohibited, require a phytosanitary certificate and pre-notification of the import.
Furthermore, all plants must be accompanied by a specific protected zone Plant Passport, which certifies that the additional protected zone requirements have been fulfilled.
Evidence of the associated EU plant passport remains a key requirement of any whitethorn hedges planted under ACRES.
