Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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238. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if logs being imported from Scotland are 100% free of bark; if he will outline any risk regarding the spruce bark beetle (ips typographus); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47130/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 238 and 244 together.

I am aware of the recent finding of the bark beetle Ips typographus in Scotland. This is a bark beetle species that is of concern to us as it has the potential to cause damage to forests in Ireland.

In November 2019, my Department launched a major plant health initiative in its ‘Plant Health and Biosecurity Strategy 2020-2025’ which outlines the importance of plant health biosecurity for Ireland and helps ensure that all stakeholders are aware of the risks to plant health in Ireland, and their role and responsibilities to reduce those risks.

My Department has invested heavily in EU ‘Border Control Posts’ facilities in recent years to allow import control inspections of plants and plant products from non-EU countries.

My Department has substantially increased staff resources in plant health and has established a dedicated Pest Risk Analysis Unit.

Coniferous roundwood with bark attached is both imported into and exported out of Ireland. Importers in Ireland do not import roundwood from areas known to be affected by bark beetles. The only area where imports into Ireland of coniferous roundwood (with bark attached) originate from is a Pest Free Area in the West of Scotland. The Pest Free Area of Scotland has been in place since 2005 and is maintained by a series of bark beetle surveys, within and outside the PFA and by other inspection protocols carried out by Scottish Authorities, confirming the absence of certain bark beetles within the boundary of the PFA.

Imports of roundwood logs from the Pest Free area (PFA) are subject to an inspection regime. All imports from the PFA must be accompanied by a Phytosanitary Certificate. Conifer logs with bark attached are not permitted to be imported into Ireland from outside this PFA.

All forest sector stakeholders have a responsibility for forest health and should ensure they engage in best practice to help prevent the introduction of pests and diseases on plants and plant products.