Mr. Jason Fleming:

To go back to the setup in County Clare, my understanding is that it has been going on for a couple of months. We only found out about it a month or six weeks ago. Samples were sent all over Europe when the beetle was found but they could not find out what type of beetle it was. They sent it to America and it was identified as a South American Monterey Pine engraver beetle.

As to the measures that are being taken, they are trying to contain it in Cratloe in County Clare. I am not aware what security measures they have introduced down there. All we know is that 21 farmers are affected and they have notified the surrounding areas where there are pine plantations. The Department has not gone through the security measures it has introduced down there.