Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures that will be taken regarding the threat of chalara found in imported ash trees; the measures he is taking to deal with the issue, having regard to the serious economic impact of such threat; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45542/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has confirmed a finding of Chalara fraxinea at a site in County Leitrim and as a result is carrying out a number of measures to both contain the disease and minimise its impacts. Department officials have actively worked with the owner at the Leitrim site, and have destroyed the material to prevent the risk of the disease spreading. The Department is investigating a number of other sites planted with ash trees from the same imported consignment.

In addition, measures under EU plant health regulations are also being put in place to deal with this serious forestry disease. In this regard, the Department is introducing legislative measures under the Plant Health Directive. The new measures being introduced by the Department under Statutory Instrument will require that any ash plants imported into the country would come from an area known to be free of the disease. This would be regulated under the EU Plant Passport system.

My colleague, Shane McEntee TD, Minister of State at the Department with responsibility for forestry, has met with representatives from the forestry sector and related industries on a number of occasions within the last week. These groups have given commitments and cooperation, including an effective moratorium on ash plant imports, to support my Department’s efforts in dealing with this threat.