Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

With respect to Mr. Delany, we will face a far more significant economic hit if the beetle comes in from the UK than will the UK, having sent timber here with the beetle in it.

That is realistically the output of all of this. That is what we are talking about. It is not about putting the responsibility on other agencies. We need to make sure we have the belt and braces done on a procedure like this. We have discussed the inherent risks, where the forestry sector is, and that we have so much Sitka spruce. We would all prefer to have less of it but it is the commercial product, whereas the roundwood is not. We are therefore forced into that situation.

The economic hit of beetle coming into this country would be appalling from the point of view of the farming sector, the people who are invested, the climate action programme and Ireland Inc.'s strategic plan. That is what I am talking about. I think we need a task force and with all due respect, it should not be Department led. If I want to examine my driving, I do not go down the road and ask if I turned well, indicated, put on my lights or hit the brakes in time. I might get somebody else into the car to do that for me. How could I assess myself? I do not think the Department should be doing it either. It should heed the call already made by two members that it robustly engage with an external review of its procedures and practices in respect of this examination.