Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Ash wood can be imported in four forms. I will repeat what I said earlier, for clarification. Imported ash wood must be accompanied by a plant passport and an official statement that it originated in the area known to be free from Chalara fraxinea. It must be squared so as to remove entirely the round surface. It must be sawn without residual bark attached and have undergone kiln drying to below 20% moisture content expressed as a percentage of dry matter. There shall be evidence, therefore, by the mark, KD, that it is kiln dried. We have left within the legislation the right to inspect ash at the ports and, if we are not happy with what we see in relation to staining, to turn it back. There will be serious surveillance at ports.