Vol. 570 No. 2
209 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to the damage that the New Zealand flatworm can effect; the research which has been done here on this pest; the precautions which can be put in place to contain or eliminate this pest; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18643/03]
The New Zealand flatworm is a predator of earthworms. It does not affect plants and accordingly does not come within the scope of EU plant health regulations, for which the Department of Agriculture and Food has statutory responsibility. It also falls outside the scope of EU environmental regulations.
I am aware that the flatworm has been recorded at several sites in this country in recent years. I am not aware of any research being carried out on this pest. There is no known control method, apart from trapping the flatworms and physically destroying them.
While we operate the most stringent plant health controls relating to imported plant material, it is widely accepted that the New Zealand flatworm is not a plant health issue. It is an environmental issue for which there are no practical, enforceable measures in place to prevent its entrance or spread within the EU.
