Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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115. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to issues affecting the supply of quality ash for the makers of hurleys; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16989/22]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Is the Minister of State aware of the issues that are affecting the quality of ash for makers of hurleys? Is she aware the game of hurling has UNESCO intangible heritage status? I want to ensure a process is put in place to support the game of hurling on the basis that Canning Hurleys has announced it is closing today. It is a major hammer blow to the game of hurling in this country and I seek the Government's response to that.

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

I am aware of the situation with the supply of ash planks. Over the past ten years, over 80% of planks for hurleys have been imported into the country, mostly from the UK, Croatia, Slovakia, Denmark, Sweden and Ukraine. A number of hurley-makers import ash planks from Ukraine and this supply is disrupted due to the Russian invasion. Despite the issues with ash plank supply, I am advised there remains a large reservoir of ash wood available on the Continent and I understand hurley-makers affected by these supply issues are looking elsewhere in Europe to increase the supply of ash planks.

Over the past ten years, supply from ash forests in Ireland and on the Continent has been affected by ash dieback disease, which is present throughout the natural range of ash in Europe. The disease has caused significant damage to ash forests in Europe. In Ireland, my Department has provided support totalling more than €7 million to owners of ash plantations impacted by ash dieback disease through the ash dieback reconstitution scheme and, more recently, through the reconstitution and underplanting scheme introduced in July 2020. I understand that, apart from research trials, all EU member states have stopped planting ash.

The Department has supported and continues to support a number of research initiatives to identify tolerant ash trees for use in ash breeding programmes for the future. The breeding of ash for resistance, which the Department and Teagasc have been involved in, is promising but is relatively long-term and will not increase ash plank supply in the short term. My Department has met Croke Park, Teagasc, Coillte and hurley-makers several times to examine the issues associated with the disease, including its spread throughout Europe, the issues of trying to make more hurleys using less ash wood, and breeding ash for resistance. The challenge posed by ash dieback has been with us for nearly ten years and some of the hurley manufacturers have already increased their range of supply lines and regions they import from. Some have started using different species of wood to make their hurleys and some have become more efficient in their use of ash.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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I welcome the Minister of State's response. As I stated at the outset, the game of hurling is embedded in the Irish psyche and it has UNESCO intangible heritage status. When a family company like Canning Hurleys announced last week it is closing today, that was a hammer blow to everybody who loves the game of hurling, no matter what part of the country they are in, because the Canning family is synonymous with the game. Will the Minister of State convene a meeting with Croke Park, Teagasc, Coillte and the Irish Guild of Ash Hurley Makers as soon as possible? I note that meetings have taken place several times, as the Minister of State said. However, would she consider reconvening a meeting at the earliest possible opportunity as a matter of urgency to deal with supply issues? One of the supply lines comes from Ukraine and that makes the issue particularly urgent.

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

I agree with the Deputy that the game is part of our culture and is synonymous with ash and the clash of the ash. It has kept many communities together throughout our State's history. As I said, my Department has met Croke Park, Teagasc, Coillte and hurley-makers. I am not sure of the dates of those last meetings but I will look into reconvening another meeting, especially if we are losing hurley-makers. That is important.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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I welcome the Minister of State's willingness to do that. Will she inform the House when she proposes to write to them and set up that meeting because we cannot afford to lose hurley-makers? They are the supply lines, bloodlines and bloodstock of that sport. Will the Minister of State place a degree of urgency on this issue? It would be wonderful if we were to hear from her that she was convening, as a matter of urgency, a meeting of all the stakeholders as early as next week or the week after, for instance, such is the urgency of this issue.

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

I will make that information available when a meeting is convened. I cannot commit to a timeline yet as there are a number of stakeholders involved apart from my Department. The challenges-----

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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If the Minister of State calls them all together, they will come. She should not worry as she has that power.

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

You never know. The Deputy has outlined the challenges, and the challenges are not only posed by ash dieback and the supply of ash. The challenge is what will happen going forward because, if we end up with no ash in Europe because of ash dieback over the next 20, 30 or 40 years, we will have to look to alternatives, including different timbers such as bamboo-----

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Hence the urgency.

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

I agree, and that is something we need to be looking into. I thank the Deputy for the question.