Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a scientific expert group concluded last week that Charala Fraxenia spreads either from spores on the leaves travelling on the wind, occurring during summer time or through infected stock; his plans to cease the cutting of hedgerows to prevent the spreading of the pathogen and reduce the risk of spreading it to Northern Ireland, England and Europe [51570/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I can assure the Deputy that my Department is fully aware of the latest scientific information available on Chalara fraxinea . Prevention of the spread of Chalara is my primary concern and early detection plays a key role in achieving this objective. While my Department has been surveying for Chalara since 2008 these surveys are set to intensify as officials Department commence an extensive examination of forests focusing on sites planted with imported ash. Specific training for the winter symptoms of ash dieback has been provided to District Forestry Inspectors and horticultural staff. Department Inspectors are also surveying for the disease in garden centres, nurseries and landscape plantings.

Our website provides details of the disease and contact phone numbers and an email address for anyone who believes they may have ash with the disease. My Department and Teagasc have prepared a poster on the disease and we will be circulating these to every Teagasc, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Coillte and NPWS office in the country as well as other relevant private sector offices. The aim will be to inform people of the symptoms of the disease and so as promote early detection.

In terms of preventing further infections originating from outside of Ireland, I introduced legislation on the 26^th October 2012, to prohibit the importation into Ireland of plant material from ash dieback infected areas. The measures make it an offence to import ash plants and seed from any country known to have the disease. As the island of Ireland has harmonised plant health status under the EU Plant Health Directive, these legal measures were introduced in conjunction with similar measures taken by the Northern Ireland. Great Britain also brought in similar measures.

While plants are a higher risk pathway, scientific advice is that the movement of ash timber is also a possible pathway of infection. Legislation on the movement of ash wood was introduced, again in conjunction with Northern Ireland, on the 6^th November 2012 and will limit the movement of ash wood into the island of Ireland as a precautionary measure.