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general view of a young Common Ash Tree which shows the symptoms of the deadly plant pathogen fungus. Gareth Fuller/PA Wire

FF calls for strong enforcement of measures to prevent ash dieback spread

A survey on sites with imported ash plants over the last four years is expected in the coming weeks.

FIANNA FÁIL SPOKESPERSON on Agriculture, Éamon Ó Cuív TD, today called for rigorous implementation of government policy in relation to the ash dieback disease.

The disease, which is widespread across continental Europe and Britain spread to Ireland with the first finding confirmed last month in Leitrim.

In the Dáil last week, Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney said the consignment, made up of some 30,000 plants imported from continental Europe was planted over 11 sites.

The ash trees at each of these 11 sites were cut and destroyed by burning last month.

Protective measures

Measures have been put in place including making it an offence to import plants from areas known to have the disease.

Furthermore, the movement of plants within the country is now also subject to plant passport requirements and legislation was introduced which control ash wood movement into Ireland, including firewood and hurley ash.

Ó Cúiv said he welcomed the measures that have been introduced but said it is important that there is “rigorous implementation” of the measures to ensure the ash forests in Ireland are protected.

The Fianna Fáil TD also urged the government to engage with the main importers of ash trees in Ireland.

“Businesses that import or use ash need to be informed of the emergency measures the government has introduced, they need to be fully aware of what is required of them in order to limit the risk of the disease spreading further in Ireland,” he said.

Cross border cooperation

Last week the first outbreak of ash dieback was confirmed at five sites in Northern Ireland and a number of other sites are also being investigated.

A spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine told TheJournal.ie that the Minister has been in constant contact with Northern authorities on the matter.

“This is something we’re looking at as an all country issue and we’re working with the authorities in the North,” he said.

A survey by the department on imported ash plants around the country over the last four years is underway and the spokesperson said the department will appraise the findings when it is complete.

The results of the survey are expected in the next couple of weeks.

Related: Further restrictions on ash imports imposed as disease continues to spread>

More: Ban on ash tree imports as fungus hits Ireland>

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15 Comments
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    Mute Declan Mannix
    Favourite Declan Mannix
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    Sep 29th 2012, 11:38 AM

    whoever hit this poor man should hand themselves in. from the paint fragments, not only can the gardai tell what type of car that hit him was, they can determine the year, and the specific batch of cars that was shipped to Ireland, and which dealer got them.. all manufacturers keep a sample of each batch of paint the use to spray maybe 100 white cars, this is analyzed and the results stored on some database which law enforcement agency’s can access.

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    Mute tony duggan
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    Sep 29th 2012, 12:25 PM

    Horatio mannix

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    Mute Mackie Sanz
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    Sep 29th 2012, 2:01 PM

    I think Declan has been watching to much CSI ….. Are u not exagerating a wee bit?

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    Mute jonathan kerr
    Favourite jonathan kerr
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    Sep 29th 2012, 10:11 PM

    my freind died due to a hit and run in letterkenny 4 years ago . after 3 week the driver handed himself in. aftervthe courts he got 7 month jail which ironicaly his release date was the 1st aniversary of lauras death.. the system sucks in this country…

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    Mute Declan Mannix
    Favourite Declan Mannix
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    Sep 29th 2012, 2:35 PM

    @tony

    ha ha… funny.

    quote from forensic paint analysis site.

    As paint is made up of three main components, the carrier, the binder and vehicle; our forensic paint experts are able to identify the different layers of paint in a hit and run or road traffic accident (RTA) for example. From this point our team will collate the chemical information they collect, allowing them to put together a report of makes, models and year of manufacture of motor vehicles where the paint may have originated.

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    Mute Declan Noonan
    Favourite Declan Noonan
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    Sep 29th 2012, 3:05 PM

    Declan, you should ring the police and help with their investigation. Btw great name you have :)

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