Ash wood ban aims to prevent spread of disease found in Monaghan and Leitrim

Legislation regarding the importation of ash wood into the country was today introduced in a bid to prevent the spread of the devastating Chalara Ash Die Back disease which has been identified in Counties Monaghan and Leitrim. Die Back came into the country from a single consignment which provided trees to counties Leitrim, Meath, Galway and Monaghan. The disease has already wiped out approximately 90% of the ash trees in Denmark and has been identified in numerous locations throughout Britain. Under the new regulations introduced by the Minister of State Shane McEntee, ash wood will be allowed into the country but only if it is from areas known to be free of the Chalara Ash Die Back disease or kiln dried or with the outer round surface (including bark) removed. Similar legislative measures are also being introduced today in the North. The purpose of the regulations is to minimise the disease risk while permitting imports of ash wood in certain forms or from disease free areas. Many manufacturers are already importing hurley planks that meet these requirements and they can continue to do so. Others who, for example, import ash butts from areas where the disease is present will need to change their supply arrangements to comply with the new legislation. By way of assistance, Minister McEntee has met with Coillte who supply most of the domestically produced ash. He stated that "Coillte have agreed to bring forward the harvesting of ash to help alleviate any interim supply issues that might arise." Announcing the new legislation today Minister McEntee said "The legislation brought in today introduces strong legal measures for wood combined with the measures brought in last month for plants. This means that north and south of the border rules are in place to prevent the risk of the disease being imported into the island". Minister McEntee added "While I understand plants are the highest risk in terms of a pathway for the disease, wood is also a risk and I was particularly concerned with high risk unprocessed wood such as firewood entering the country from infected areas."