Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Senator Pippa Hackett):

I accept people’s frustration. They have been waiting a long time, but it is important that we get this right. This is not just a decision for me to make in my Department. Rather, it requires engagement across the Government, in particular with the Department of public expenditure.

In the meantime, and as I have stated repeatedly, it is important that the farmers affected by ash dieback who wish to engage with the reconstitution scheme do so now. They need to get that done. It is essential that those trees be cleared before we plant any new ones. We have seen a significant number of farmers engaging with the scheme. They will not be disadvantaged when we finally get agreement on the plan. I assure the House that we are incredibly close, but we have to get it right. I accept people’s frustration and that it has been too long a time, but we are doing everything we can to get this right.

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