Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

One cannot but admire Senator Higgins for her tremendous skill, ability to debate and craftsmanship in the art of politics. I say fair play to her for referring to the crataegus and to other trees. I also say well done to her regarding her commitment in respect of this entire area.

To go back to the native Irish pine, it is important that we acknowledge the tremendous work of the botany school and environmental faculty down the road in Trinity College Dublin. They have done a great deal of collaborative work on this and a lot of research. I hope the Acting Chair will indulge me for a moment, but when I was making some inquiries about trying to restrict Scots pine, I was somewhat surprised about the native Irish pine, the Burren pine. Such a thing does exist, and I went down and had a look at some of the paperwork relating to it. I ask the Minister and his officials to take stock of and look at that because it is exciting. This is something that we should look at and seek to increase.

I genuinely have concerns about pine trees, given the problems arising now due to pathogens and diseases with some pine trees in Ireland. That has been well documented by Teagasc. We are familiar with Dutch elm disease and ash dieback. We must be very careful. Let it be a marker to us all here today. Teagasc has serious concerns about the pathogens relating to some pines and that is something on which we need to keep a watchful eye because we do not want it to get out of control.

I am very happy to support the amendment. I say well done to Senator Higgins for the imaginative way she got a number of trees into it.