Ms Geraldine O'Sullivan:

Obviously, the timber that comes in is processed and is exported and the UK is our main market.

If one is calling for a temporary suspension, there will be issues. We are lucky that we have Coillte, which is a State body which could be able to support this and ensure the mobilisation to act. We have mechanisms within the country that could be used if the review was carried out quickly and efficiently. We are lucky there; we have the private sector. This can be managed and co-ordinated and it would require that.

We need a whole-of-industry response to the issue of plant health. It is not just to the Department and the farmers. We need the industry involved. They are involved in the transportation.

There needs to be greater transparency and communication. That was highlighted in the ash dieback review. Are there the capabilities and the resources within the Department to do that?

This will increasingly be a problem. As the Deputy said rightly, it definitely impacts economically our strategic plan to grow the sector.