Eugene Murphy (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am glad to be in the House to support Senator Martin's Bill. I extend a céad míle fáilte to all the people in our Gallery and a major thank you to the people who gave us a wonderful presentation this morning. I am sorry that I had to come into the Chamber when the bells rang but I was enjoying the presentation.

I pay tribute to Senator Martin for bringing this Bill forward. More than a year and a half ago through a Commencement matter I brought the same issue to the House but it was in the middle of Covid, down in the convention centre and did not get the coverage it should have got. This is a far better way to do it by bringing the Bill forward and bringing everybody with Senator Martin. At that time, a number of people involved in beekeeping contacted me. The concern at that time was because of Brexit and bees coming in from Europe through Northern Ireland to go into England.

I fully support the Bill but the most important issue is the message that needs to go out to the public on the importance of pollination for the production of food. In our country, not enough people understand that but our younger generation is getting better. The all-Ireland pollinator plan is important. I see many communities and schools becoming involved in that. It is so important that we protect our native honeybees. This is workable. Although the Minister of State has to have some concerns regarding Europe, those can be overcome. The important thing is that all the people, whatever side of the House they are on, are fully supportive of what the Senator is trying to do. It is important for existence and nature. If any of us takes heed of nature every day, which I do as a former horticulturist, people will ask where our bees have gone and what is happening to nature. Even people without a great interest in it will say nature has changed. Surely that is enough for us as legislators to be supportive of this type of thing and to bring forward suggestions. I will have some suggestions to add to the Bill when it goes through the House.

It is the road and path we must take. We have to do it for future generations and for the world to be secure. Our population in Ireland and over the world must understand how important pollination is for the production of food. I thank Senator Martin, the Acting Chairman, the Minister of State and all Senators for showing a great interest and helping us along this road, because that is important as well.