David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for selecting this matter and I thank the Minister and Minister of State for being here.

A number of years ago we did not know about Japanese knotweed but now we do. We know how dangerous it is and how expensive it is to remove. In some instances and in some countries, people cannot get mortgages if it is on a site. Invasive species such as this are becoming more prevalent because of the movement of people and global warming. I want to draw the attention of the House this morning to the most recent threat, which is the red fire ant, a native of South America. A while ago, it moved to North America and to the United States, where it costs $6 billion annually. Now it has been found in Italy, which the first such discovery in Europe. It damages crops and electrical equipment and spreads very quickly because of global warming, the movement of people and, in particular, the importation of soil. It is good that the Minister and Minister of State from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine are present to take this matter because this particular ant can have a devastating effect on agriculture. It also affects people because its sting can be very dangerous and can lead to allergic reaction, hospitalisation, and death.

The red fire ant moved to New Zealand but they eradicated it there. They were on the ball in New Zealand. They saw it coming and when it arrived, they were ready for it. They dealt with it quickly and got rid of it. I have read reports suggesting that it could move to northern Europe quite easily, especially with global warming, as I said earlier. I ask the Ministers to indicate whether there is an awareness of this danger. What agency in the State is responsible if this ant arrives in Ireland? What action can be taken quickly to eradicate it before it gets a foothold here? If it gets a foothold, it will be very difficult to get rid of it. It spreads very quickly and it is very damaging. It can even damage cars because it burrows into electrical equipment. It can damage computers and so on, so we can see how difficult it could be for people, plants, agriculture, electrical equipment, and for industry. We do not want this ant here.

Are the local authorities responsible for identifying this? Should people be told about it? It has been found in parts of the UK and Finland but has not gotten a foothold in either country yet. However, it has gotten a foothold near Syracuse in Sicily, Italy, where 19 nests were found in one particular area. The risk, given that it is in Europe now, is that it could spread. We really need to be aware of it and prepared for it, as well as other invasive species that could be on the way as a result of global warming. We should be on the lookout but who is responsible for this? What action is going to be taken and who is going to take it before this ant gets a foothold?

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