Ash die-back disease will be dealt with ruthlessly

A ruthless approach to Chalara fraxinea ash die-back disease has been promised by Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Shane McEntee.

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.