Will the Leader arrange a debate, if possible before the Christmas break, on the very dangerous and invasive weed known as Japanese knotweed, preferably with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government?

I know it has been a huge issue in parts of Cork where local authorities have seen roads undermined-----

And indeed in Kerry.

And indeed in Kerry. I saw our good colleague, Councillor Michael Cahill, raise the issue yesterday. The Department and various local authorities are turning a blind eye to this. You cannot burn it. It can grow without light underground undermining the foundations of a house. I know of a house in Bantry where it has actually undermined a gable wall. The people did not know what it was for until they carried out an investigation. It is an issue that will jump up and bite us. It is spreading like wildfire in this country and is a very serious issue. I am not sure what the answers are but in London they brought in experts to see if they could stymie and curtail it. If you burn the weed itself, it will regrow. It does not need light and will grow underground. The roots can grow 30 ft. downwards and outwards. It is a very serious issue and I know that local authorities are concerned about the effect of this weed on motorways and roads. It is so important that we deserve a debate here for possibly an hour or two with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government. I am not attacking the Minister in any way but I am not sure if he is the answer. It is worthy of a debate and I am calling for this debate to be held as soon as possible.

I support what Senator O'Donovan has said because I have been pursuing this matter through the Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Everything Senator O'Donovan has said is correct. They have spent millions of pounds in Great Britain trying to curtail it. It is not possible to burn it out of the ground. The latest treatment is electric shock, believe it or not. It is a very serious problem. It has contaminated a large wild area in my town. If one walks where it is, you will literally bring back the spores on your shoes to your own land and garden. It needs to be addressed.

We have provision in one of the wildlife Acts to deal with this and prevent it moving from A to B but we do not have any provision in law or any other statute to deal with it on-site and eradicate it. Thanks in part to Senator Paul Coghlan, I travelled between Dungarvan and Killarney quite recently for an event. Along the road between Fermoy and Killarney, I saw signs notifying people that Japanese knotweed is on the road and not to touch it. It is that serious and it needs to be addressed. I welcome and support the call for an urgent debate in this House because the weed will destroy lands across the country.