Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has consulted with his UK equivalent on the spread of Chalara Fraxinea amongst trees in the UK; if he has measures in place to protect the Irish Forestry industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47419/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Department officials have been regularly in direct contact with their Northern Ireland counterparts on the issue of Chalara fraxinea, or ash dieback disease, with a view to putting measures in place to prevent the spread of this disease on the island. These contacts have led to the introduction of legislation to ban the import of ash plants from countries or parts of countries known to have the disease. This Statutory Instrument came into effect from the 26^th October 2012 and was simultaneously introduced in Northern Ireland. Last week, I met with my Northern Counterpart Michelle O Neill, MLA at a joint North South Ministerial Council where we shared information on actions taken in both jurisdictions in relation to Chalara. In addition, late last week Minister McEntee had a further meeting met with Minister O’Neill to discuss additional legislative measures in relation to wood imports in co-operation with the authorities in Northern Ireland. These legislative measures will be introduced on both sides of the border today.