Róisín Garvey (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for coming in. I also thank my colleague, Senator Vincent Martin, for his work on this Bill. In fact, he has brought in more Bills to the House in the lifetime of this Government than any other Senator. I believe the number is in double figures in four short years, and that must be commended. It is good to use the House. We are legislators so we can bring in Bills. I think Senator Martin for being outstanding in his work to date in bringing in Bills. As a senior counsel he is well able.

On the Bill, it is fine to say bees are great and for signs to be put up asking people to leave flowers for the bees, but we need real action to protect the native black honey bee because it is under serious threat. Especially during lockdown, everybody went mad for becoming beekeepers overnight, but a lot of them were not aware of the importance of only dealing with native bees and a lot of bees were imported. Unfortunately, those bees will dilute the population of indigenous bees, which is of serious concern, and the protection of indigenous bees is the main purpose of this Bill. I note that Malta, Estonia, France and Finland are all looking to Ireland to see what we do about this as they have huge issues with their indigenous bees. Slovenia set a precedent in 2008 by banning the import of all honey bees and they protect their native stock, which is what we are after today.

The Irish honey bee has shorter legs, a hairier body and a shorter tongue. They know how to ration their food in our weather conditions, which is amazing, whereas the imported bees do not know how to do that. They are very clever and, therefore, it is very important we protect them. The native Irish honey bee, Apis mellifera mellifera, also called the black bee or the dark European honey bee, was originally widespread throughout the whole of northern Europe but, sadly, is no longer prevalent there now due to hybridisation with other subspecies. Scientific research and DNA analysis have confirmed the Irish strain to be both pure and distinct, like champagne and Camembert cheese, which are protected, and we need to do the same for our honey bee.

Thankfully, the black bee is still alive in Ireland and is the variety kept by most beekeepers. It is, however, severely threatened due to hybridisation with imported non-native subspecies as well as the effects of diseases that may be imported by non-native bees. Along with other bees and pollinators generally, it is struggling due to habitat loss, pesticide use and intensive agriculture. Sadly, one third of all Ireland's bees are at risk of extinction. People do not seem to make the link. People just think the Greens are always buzzing about bees, but we will be unable to grow any food in Ireland if we do not have pollinators, and our bees are the ones who play the most important role in pollinating. Even for a spud or carrot to fruit, it must be pollinated. If we do not have good pollinators, we cannot grow any food, which is of huge concern. For years we have been mass producing genetically modified and pesticide-sprayed foods to a large scale and our small food producers are struggling. The Minister of State who is in the House today has done huge work in supporting organic growers and small producers. These producers and the bees need our support. Native Irish honey bees have no voice of their own so we want to be their voice today.

I thank all the people in the audience because they are all campaigners and part of the Irish honey bee association. They have inspired me for years and it is great they took the time to come here today. I will leave the rest to be said by my very able Senator colleague. Let us do the right thing by the native Irish bees.