Council votes to ban Japanese knotweed chemical

Galway City Tribune – Growing problems with Japanese knotweed around the city were highlighted at this week’s City Council meeting – however, councillors also voted to ‘cease the usage’ of the only weedkiller capable of dealing with the problem.

Councillors supported a proposal from Independent councillor, Colette Connolly (Ind.) and seconded by Cllr. Pauline O’Reilly (Green Party), to commit to ceasing the usage of glyphosate as a weedkiller by the City Council’s parks staff.

Cllr. Connolly said that the County Council had passed a similar motion and also added that countries such as France and Austria had also banned the product. “This is a clear indication of where we should be going,” said Cllr. Connolly.

Her seconder, Cllr. O’Reilly, said that the evidence was very clear that glyphosate weedkiller was carcinogenic (cancer causing) and added that the Council should commit to ceasing its usage.

City Council Chief Executive, Brendan McGrath, said that the use of glyphosate was the only solution in terms of controlling the Japanese knotweed – he said that there would be a full report to the SPC (Strategic Policy Committee) which would come back before the full Council.
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