Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

The Deputy has been raising this issue for some time and I hope I can now finally give him an answer that is satisfactory. I will send him a more comprehensive briefing note as well, as I will not have time to provide all the information.

Bees play an essential role worldwide by pollinating many of our commercial food crops. They also maintain biodiversity in the wild by pollinating wild plants which then provide shelter and food for a wide range of insects and animals. The honey bee is by far the most important insect pollinator in the world. The varroa mite is the most devastating pest affecting honey bees in Europe. Since its introduction into Ireland in 1998 it has become endemic and is now a major problem for Irish beekeepers.

Currently, two products are authorised to control varroa in Irish honeybees. My Department has identified two more products that should be suitable for treating varroa mites in Ireland. One of these is authorised in another EU member state. However, the other, which is considered the most suitable, is expected to be authorised shortly in another member state. If this is achieved it will allow my Department to consider issuing a special import licence permitting usage of that product in this jurisdiction in time for treatment against varroa later this year as recommended.

The national apiculture programme on bee pathogen research is being carried out by the University of Limerick in conjunction with Teagasc. This three year research programme, running to August 2013, has a budget of €300,000 and is jointly funded by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the EU.

The obstacle to getting the necessary treatment into Ireland is that it takes a long time to get approval within a country for the treatment to deal with this pest. However, there is an arrangement in the EU whereby if a country goes through the necessary processes and gets approval for its use, it can then be transferred to other European countries without having to go through the approval process again. As we are close to securing approval in another member state, the advice I have been given is to allow that process to be completed. When it is, and I understand that will be in the not too distant future, we will apply for a special import licence to import it into Ireland and make it available at the appropriate time of the year, which is the autumn.

That is as much detail as I can give at this stage, but I will send a further note to the Deputy.

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