Denis Landy (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Cannon, for engaging in this Adjournment debate. It is unfortunate for the Minister of State because this matter was tabled by me last week and the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Tom Hayes, who is a good Tipperary man, as am I, was supposed to deal with it. In the intervening period he put the Minister of State, Deputy Cannon, in the hot seat after we beat Galway by nine points in Thurles. He will have to answer to his maker for that. On a serious note, I know the Minister of State, Deputy Cannon, has a great interest in hurling and the fate of our native ash tree.

In 2012, ash dieback arrived in Ireland and by April 2014 some 120 cases had been identified and 1,300 acres of forest had been destroyed. The industry supports 400 jobs and ash wood is used for many purposes, one of which is the making of hurleys. Some 350,000 hurleys are produced every year in Ireland but the cost of ash for this production has increased dramatically, even in recent months. Ash now costs €12 per plank, the raw material for a hurley, and it was previously €9.50. I commend the Department on the work it has done to date in trying to control the disease but it is a fact that Ireland imports 80% of its ash from elsewhere in Europe. Much of this comes from the UK where ash dieback is now accepted as unstoppable by scientists. It is expected that the ash crop in England will be destroyed in the coming years. The situation facing hurley makers is so serious that we have resorted to such drastic actions as enlisting the help of Queen Elizabeth II of England in providing ash from her royal forests in Sandringham Estate, Norfolk. This is something that has pleased Prince Philip and in which he has taken an active interest.

Coillte informed us prior to this outbreak that Ireland could be self-sufficient in terms of ash growth by 2018. How realistic is this estimate now? Work is being carried out in Norwich on a tree known as Tree 35 that may be resistant to the disease. Has the Irish Government or Coillte been involved in this work and what progress has been made with regard to the Irish case? How many outbreaks have occurred in 2014 and how widespread is the disease in Ireland? What percentage of ash trees has been affected by the outbreak and how is this issue being communicated to the general public? Teagasc held a number of public awareness meeting for farmers and those involved in forestry but many members of the public who walk through national parks do not recognise the signs of ash dieback and, thus, cannot notify the authorities. Can the Minister of State make a comment on medium and long-term stock level projections for Ireland?

The Galway hurlers have no further part to play in the championship but the Tipperary hurlers hope to be in Croke Park in September. I hope that hurleys made from Irish ash will be available in future because it is our national game and something in which we all take great pride. Hurling is a conversation ice-breaker in all situations and I take a great interest in it. I hope the Minister of State has good news on this issue.