Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In response to representations in July, the Minister of State with responsibility for Food, Forestry Horticulture and Food Safety replied in August 2015 to the person referred to in your question, setting out the actions already taken and that were proposed for the remainder of 2015 in combatting the ash dieback disease. This included a large scale systematic and wider targeted survey of forests, nurseries, hedgerows, agricultural environmental schemes and roadside plantings across the whole of the country which commenced at the beginning of July. The field element, laboratory testing, and analysis have recently been finalised and the outcomes of the survey and other work are currently being assessed.

In addition, a review of policy in relation to the disease is being carried out by my Department in co-operation with colleagues in DARD in Northern Ireland following the outcome of the summer surveys.

Preliminary results show that due to the high number of findings of ash dieback, especially in native hedgerows, Ireland would not be in a position to apply to the EU for Protected Zone status for the disease. My officials met a delegation from the IFA including the person referred to in your question on 18 November. At that meeting the Department provided a detailed update on the situation of the disease in the country. The possibility of removing the embargo on ash sales under a plant passport system for nurseries, for plants which have been free of the disease for at least two years, is being considered.