Mr. Aidan O'Driscoll:

The Japanese knotweed is a huge issue around the country. It has not interfered with farming in a significant way but the problem it is a huge invasive species that is very difficult to kill. I know that NUIG, in particular, has done some work on the species. I am aware, personally, that it provides advice to people on ways to tackle the species. One must inject glyphosate into literally every single stem of a plant in order to kill it off. Japanese knotweed is extraordinarily difficult to get rid of and is like Rhododendron in other parts of the country. Japanese knotweed is even more invasive and it has taken over huge areas of the country. The problem would need to go much further before one saw an impact on agricultural production.