A London couple who say their new lives in Achill, Co Mayo, are blighted by Japanese knotweed, an aggressive bamboo-like plant, want the Government follow Britain and make it an offence punishable by fines and imprisonment to allow the weed to grow in the wild.
Legislation is needed if Japanese knotweed is not to pose a serious menace to the construction sector across the State in the next decade, say Jane and Alistair Steger-Lewis, who moved to 19th-century Corraun House in Achill to "escape the rat race" seven years ago.
Although the plant was first introduced to west Mayo more than 150 years ago for ornamental use, it has become a nuisance. It spreads quickly, penetrating foundations, tarmac and concrete.
The Steger-Lewis couple hope to restore their residence although, due to the abundance of knotweed, they admit it may prove a lifetime's challenge.
In the last 50 years, the house and gardens have fallen into disrepair, with Japanese knotweed and another rapacious plant invader, wild cabbage (Gunneria tinctoria), colonising the five-acre gardens.
According to the couple, local government in Ireland is turning a blind eye to Japanese knotweed. They have failed to persuade Government departments and Mayo County Council to recognise the problem.
The council makes no mention on its website of Japanese knotweed or any other invasive species. Nor does the National Parks and Wildlife Service, Mr Steger-Lewis said yesterday. "It's incredible that such a huge problem is not acknowledged.
"The problems we have seen in Mayo are not as bad as the problems in the UK, but we're really concerned by the rate of spread, especially as there are no precautions taken as far as I can tell."
The couple say the council should make the removal and disposal of knotweed a condition in planning applications. However, a spokesman for the local authority said it was not within its remit to do so.