Ash die-back disease will be dealt with ruthlessly
He said the Government will not stop direct payments to farmers affected by control measures, and reforestation of removed trees will be grant-aided — despite Government policy of no compensation for those affected.
“This could be catastrophic, but we must remain cool and calm, and be ruthless in dealing with it and work together,” said Mr McEntee when he addressed Seanad Eireann on the ash die-back threat.
The disease was found in Ireland last October, in Co Leitrim, in a consignment of 30,000 plants imported from continental Europe.
These were planted on 11 sites. Trees on these sites were cut and destroyed by burning, without delay.
Up to 20,000 other trees, in close proximity to the infected consignment, were also removed.
Voluntary measures to prevent importation of infected material have been superseded by legislation introduced simultaneously with Northern Ireland, which makes it an offence to import plants from areas known to have Chalara fraxinea.
Movement of plants within Ireland has been made subject to plant-passport requirements.
Legislation was also introduced to control ash-wood movement into Ireland, including firewood and hurley ash. It can only come from a disease-free area, or be free of outer-round surface (including bark), or be kiln-dried below 20% moisture.
Meanwhile, ash-tree surveys continue, with the focus on sites at most risk from infection, such as recently planted imports from the Continent.
The Department of Agriculture recommends hygiene/biosecurity measures in areas where the disease is suspected, or where ash surveys are being carried out.
Forest owners, forest nursery staff, and members of the public have been asked to be vigilant for the disease and report (with photographs, if possible) to the Forest Service any concerns about unusual ill-health in ash trees.
In the UK, ash dieback has been confirmed at 200 sites, including cases in imported saplings planted at five Northern Ireland sites, in Co Down and Co Antrim.
UK experts have warned that ash dieback has gone beyond containment and beyond eradication, and could yet make Dutch Elm Disease look trivial.
As infection lies dormant during the winter, the extent of disease may not be known until late next spring.
At this time of year symptoms include open wounds where a stalk meets the main stem of the sapling, or leaf discolouration and loss, which is similar to the harmless effects of autumn/winter conditions.
Mr McEntee said the traceability system for trees was working well. “Chalara fraxinea is found in young plants, and we have the capacity to trace where these plants have come from.
“We have a war cabinet in place and hold a meeting every day, and we bring in people when we come to make decisions. We are dealing seriously with this outbreak, but we do not want to create panic.
“We are an island and we have been able to escape other diseases because of that.
“We have three months, and there are ways of recognising the disease in the winter months. It is not necessary to have leaves on the trees to recognise the disease.
“We will be ruthless and, with a bit of luck, in 12 months’ time we will have it under control.”
