Erin McGreehan (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I wish to share time with Senator Martin.

Mark Daly (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Is that agreed? Agreed.

Erin McGreehan (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State is very welcome. I suppose one could say that Senator Martin and I have serious bees in our bonnets about this issue. We want a ban on the importation of non-native bees into this country. As the Minister of State well knows, it is not only us but many Irish beekeepers, bee enthusiasts and those of us who care deeply about our native biodiversity. I have spoken to the wonderful Martin O'Rourke from the County Louth Beekeepers Association which was established in 1910 and has more than a century of collected knowledge on how best to protect native bee stocks, biodiversity and what is in the best interests of our island's natural and native environment. We should listen to the people who know their bees.

It is time for some true ecological nationalism. A growing body of scientific research is proving what beekeepers have known for generations. A Limerick Institute of Technology scientist has proven beyond any doubt that the pure native Irish honey bee is not extinct as previously feared, but still exists on the island of Ireland. An applied science postgraduate student, Jack Hassett, has discovered that millions of the pure native species are living in at least 300 hives throughout the country. His study shows that while the black bee should be considered endangered, there are enough of the pure native honeybee in Ireland to not only ensure its survival with the proper support, but also enough Irish bees to repopulate northern Europe, where the majority of Apis mellifera mellifera has died out or been hybridised. It is too late to act once the horse has bolted. It is time for action.

I would be grateful if the Minister of State could provide an update on studies undertaken with the aid of the genetic research grant she spoke about previously. Where there is a will there is a way to find out how we can work within the current legal structures to ban the importation of the non-native bee.

Vincent P Martin (Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State to the Chamber. Ireland is the last stronghold in the world of the native black honey bee, which as Senator McGreehan says, comes from northern Europe. This bee is under major threat. Beekeepers are not going to stand idly by. They are in negotiations with the Department for the past 50 years. Luckily, we now have a Minister who understands and is sympathetic. They want action not words. This is not a criticism of the EU, because the EU has the mechanism and the provisions under Article 36 to take measures which, in essence, would have the effect of restricting and prohibiting the importation of non-native honey bees to Ireland.

The EU has in its treaty the precautionary principle, which allows for a higher level of environmental protection through preventive decision taking in the case of risk. There is the well-established habitats directive and there is significant regulation dealing with the prevention and spread of alien species. This is not new. This was challenged in the court about 20 years ago. The Danish decision to prohibit the importation of non-native honey bees was upheld. They wanted to retain the brown bee. The decision stated there was a high threshold and it must be justified and proportionate. We are convinced that we have the expert compelling evidence to make this move and we should do so sooner rather than later. I thank the Minister of State for her engagement to date with the beekeepers and I welcome the fact that she is going to engage further with them.

Pippa Hackett (Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senators for bringing this important Commencement matter to the House. As they both know, I fully acknowledge the important contribution bees make not only to agriculture and biodiversity but also as an important activity for people. Indeed, beekeepers are very passionate about what they do. In this regard, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine 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. The Department is also a partner in the all-Ireland pollinator plan, which will run until 2025. The Department is supporting a farmland pollinator officer and a successful European innovation partnership project running in County Kildare. The Department is a member of the all-Ireland honeybee strategy steering group so we are very much fully aware of the concerns that exist. We have, as Senator McGreehan outlined, 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. In 2021, funding has been allocated for an innovative queen rearing project. The Department also supports the work of the Native Irish Honey Bee Society, NIHBS.

The importation of honeybees into Ireland is facilitated under regulations governing intra-community trade with other EU member states. The specific health requirements for trading in bees are laid out in Regulation 2016/429. All imports of bees must be accompanied by a health certificate issued by the country of export. The reason for this is to ensure that imported bees are healthy and do not harbour pathogens or parasites that may be harmful to our native bee stock. The health certificate also outlines the import restrictions that apply on regions that have confirmed cases of the small hive beetle. It is therefore very much built around protecting our own bee species from disease and ill health rather than safeguarding the genetic strength.

Regarding the protection of the native Irish honeybee, I recently met with the NIHBS. I thank Senator Martin for organising that. Following this meeting, officials in the Department are progressing avenues and have vowed to engage with the society as they do this. We are also engaging with the European Commission on the feasibility of the various options related to protecting our own species of bee. To this end, discussions are taking place with officials in the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS. There are certain elements in place for native wild bees whereas native honeybees are more domesticated varieties so they fall under a different Department. The NPWS will look into elements such as invasive species that fall within its remit. In tandem, Department officials and bee associations in conjunction with the NPWS are investigating and progressing options in relation to the query at hand. They are also working on matters related to education aimed at new beekeepers because there has been quite a bit of interest in beekeeping over the last while. It is important that beekeepers know the type of bee they are getting and what is the best bee for them. If that is the native Irish honeybee, all the better.

Erin McGreehan (Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I was told there was told there was a great buzz about this today. The best bee for this country is the native Irish bee. The European Commission has stated, in a question about the protection of our native bee species, "Ireland can, however, decide at national level whether or not to give legal protection to this sub-species and to take the necessary conservation measures to protect it, for example in order to contribute to the attainment of the objectives of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan." This has therefore been addressed in a Commission report already.

Vincent P Martin (Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I have written to the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission to see if we can get our bees here in Leinster House. If they are in the grounds of Leinster House we must ensure we use the native honeybee which is less aggressive, so it stings less, and is also less prone to swarming. We do not want swarming or hybridisation. In a nutshell, every beekeeper organisation, North and South, east and west, wants this to happen. The organisations want it now as 15 years is too long. They will give this their best shot but this is their last stand. They do not want to go further with this but they will feel compelled to take the case further. They will no longer stand idly by and let the native Irish honeybee disappear off the face of the Earth.

Pippa Hackett (Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank both Senators once more for bringing this to the House. Joking aside, this is a serious issue. We have had bees on the roof of Agriculture House. They are not there at the moment because we are getting the roof fixed but I understand they will be back next season. I look forward to it.

Vincent P Martin (Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Will they be native ones?

Pippa Hackett (Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

They absolutely better be. I will certainly make sure of that. We have made progress on this in the last couple of months, more so than what happened previously. As Senator Martin said, the beekeepers are a long time waiting for this. Hopefully the work between Department officials, the associations, the NPWS and whoever else needs to be involved will progress this. We just have to ensure that if we are going to do this, we get it right and do not leave ourselves up for challenge and have to backtrack. I wish the Senators good luck and hope they keep up the good work.