29/10/2012

'Fortress Ireland' Tactic For Ash Tree Disease

Further action has been announced by Northern Ireland’s Forestry Minister to combat the threat of the ash tree disease which is affecting Great Britain.

A "Fortress Ireland" approach is being adopted by Minister Michelle O’Neill, as she introduces emergency legislation which will work with similar legislation in the Republic of Ireland, to stop the importation of ash trees.

The measure is being taken by the Minister to help prevent the spread of Chalara ash dieback, a disease of ash trees which is caused by the fungus Chalara fraxinea.

Minister O’Neill said Chalara ash dieback is serious threat to native trees.

She has welcomed the opportunity for cross-border cooperation in a "Fortress Ireland" approach to plant health.

She said: "I held discussions with my counterpart Minister of State Shane McEntee in which we agreed that emergency legislation was essential to control the imports of ash trees into Ireland.

"It was therefore an important step that we have co-ordinated the introduction of legislation so that we have equivalent measures coming into force on the same day north and south."

More than 100,000 ash trees have already been destroyed so far in England and Scotland as a result of the spread of the disease.

Some 100 staff have been redeployed from the Forestry Commission and the Food and Environment and Research Agency to focus on the crisis following the discovery of the disease in separate woodlands in East Anglia. A further 12 sites in East Anglia and Kent are awaiting results to confirm the disease.

Minister O’Neil added: "In addition to the introduction of this legislation, I am convening a meeting of stakeholders and industry representatives next week to discuss further monitoring and control measures to prevent the spread of the disease."

(IT)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

05 November 2012
Ireland Steps Up Ash Dieback Campaign
Forestry Minister Michelle O’Neill’s 'Fortress Ireland' approach to the ash dieback problem affecting the UK is to step up its campaign. She is currently working with Dáil Forestry Minister Shane McEntee to prevent the fungal disease from reaching Ireland.
10 July 2013
All-Ireland Ash Dieback Strategy Confirmed
Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have agreed on an all-island strategy to combat ash dieback disease. Agriculture Ministers Michelle O’Neill and Tom Hayes have finalised a strategy to to prevent Chalara ash dieback disease becoming established in Ireland.
15 October 2012
'Fortress Ireland' Call To Prevent Tree Disease
Calls to prevent a deadly tree disease spreading to Ireland have been made by the Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Michelle O’Neil. The devastating Ash Dieback (Chlara fraxinea) has been discovered in County Leitrim and has already been responsible for killing trees in England, Scotland and mainland Europe.
07 November 2012
Hurley Players' Ash Dieback Fears Eased
Forestry Minister Michelle O’Neill has sought to ease the fears of hurley players and hurley stick manufacturers with new legislation to deal with the threat of ash dieback. Emergency legislation is being put in place to safeguard the import of ash wood and bark.
08 May 2014
Forestry Ministers Highlight All-Ireland Approach To Plant Health
Agriculture and Forestry Minister Michelle O’Neill has joined her counterpart in the Republic of Ireland Tom Hayes to highlight the importance of cross-border cooperation in tackling plant disease across Ireland.