Paschal Mooney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I join colleagues in congratulating our friends in the United States of America on the anniversary of their independence. It is salutary to remind the House that not only is there a US Senate, but bicameral systems operate in all of the states and have done so since the 18th century. Obviously they are doing something right, but the message has not got through to the Taoiseach, who, I am more and more convinced, is on a solo run. He is increasingly isolated on the bizarre approach he has taken to parliamentary reform.

I wish to raise an issue that is totally unrelated to what I have just said, namely, that of the national bee colony. While it may seem like a trivial matter, it is in fact extremely serious. According to reports in the national newspapers today, the Irish bee colony is declining at an alarming rate. It is something that started in the United States. Bees are affected by a viral infection, which has been compounded by the atrociously bad weather we have experienced over the last two years. When I refer to a serious decline, I mean a decline which has devastating consequences and impacts beyond those who are beekeepers. It is actually affecting our tourist industry. We have a very proud record of producing top-class honey in various parts of the country which is marketed as an Irish product abroad. I ask the Leader to parallel the approach in the UK, where a similarly drastic decline is being experienced. The UK Government has announced in the last two days that it is initiating an urgent review of the crisis. I ask that the relevant Minister initiate an urgent review of the crisis in Ireland to establish exactly what the cause of the problem is and how it can be addressed to arrest the alarming decline in the Irish bee colony. It is obvious that it is a matter within the remit of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and, possibly, may be a responsibility of the newly appointed Minister of State at that Department, Deputy Tom Hayes, who attended the House last night.