Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 January 2021
489. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration will be given to introducing legislation in the current Dáil term to ban the importation of non-native bee species in order to protect the native stock of Irish honey bees apis mellifera mellifera; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3204/21]
View answer490. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the importation of non-native bee species here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3205/21]
View answer491. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the controls in place to monitor and control the importation of non-native bee species here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3206/21]
View answer492. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there is any analysis of the environmental impact on Ireland’s native stock of honeybees apis mellifera mellifera caused by the importation of non-native bee species here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3207/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 489 to 492, inclusive, together.
I fully acknowledge the important contribution bees make to agriculture and biodiversity as both pollinators and honey producers. In this regard, my Department provides a range of supports and initiatives to encourage and assist beekeepers and the national beekeeping associations. These supports include funding to carry out applied research through the National Apiculture Programme, grants to national beekeeping associations and grant aid to fund capital investments for beekeepers. My Department has funded a number of studies under the Genetic Research Grant Aid Scheme looking at various aspects of this honeybee species and specifically apis mellifera mellifera. My Department also supports the work of the Native Irish Honey Bee Society.
In relation to the importation of honeybees into Ireland, this is allowed under regulations governing intra-Community trade with other EU Member States. The specific health requirements for trading in bees are laid out in Council Directive 92/65/EEC. All imports of bees must be accompanied by a health certificate issued by the country of export. This is to ensure that imported bees are healthy and do not harbour pathogens or parasites that may be harmful to our native bee stocks.
The importation of bees is, therefore, subject to EU regulation on intra-community trade.
