Michael McNamara (Clare, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I hope we will continue to use them in matches with Kilkenny. As so many hurleys are made in Clare, it is an important source of revenue and employment. Deputy Phelan mentioned that there is a Seed Savers in Scarriff, my own parish. As Deputy Phelan brought it up I do not feel embarrassed about mentioning it. The Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, visited it with me and I very much encourage that work, particularly with the current threat to our ash plants.

One hurley maker in Clare employs six people and makes between 60,000 to 70,000 hurleys per year. There are several other hurley makers across County Clare from Tuamgraney, Ogonnelloe, Broadford, Kilmurry, Kilkishen and Tubber. As the Minister of State will know from his relatively recent visit to Clare, there is not a hedgerow in east or mid Clare which does not feature the beautiful silver bark of ash trees. I am very concerned about the threat posed by ash dieback and would like to hear how the Minister of State proposes to deal with the threat. It is both a threat to our biodiversity and employment in County Clare.

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