Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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87. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the protections in place to protect the native Irish bee from prevalent threats such as the American foulbrood disease and the small hive beetle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38570/15]

Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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88. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the restrictions in place on imported bees to protect the native Irish bee from the spread of prevalent threats such as the American foulbrood disease and the small hive beetle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38571/15]

Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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89. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will investigate the possibility of quarantining and testing imported bee species, in order to protect the native Irish bee's natural habitat from diseases or other threats which jeopardise the indigenous Irish bee population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38572/15]

Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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90. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has previously conducted or commissioned a survey to assess the threat imported bees can pose to the indigenous Irish bee population through the spreading of disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38573/15]

Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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91. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider the appointment of bee inspectors, similar to those appointed in Northern Ireland, through European Union financial aid funding to monitor and control the spread of pests and diseases that threaten the natural habitat of the indigenous Irish bee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38574/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 87 to 91, inclusive, together.

The value of honey bees as pollinators far exceeds their value as honey producers. In 2008 the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government estimated the value of pollinators (including honey bees) for Irish food crops was worth at least €53m. This does not include the value of pollinators in terms of non-food crops and maintaining bio-diversity in the wild. The value of honey produced in Ireland in 2014 was estimated at slightly over €3m.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has not conducted a study to assess the possible impact of a significant bee disease outbreak, however I fully recognise that a disease outbreak, and especially an exotic disease outbreak, could have a significant negative impact on the Irish bee population.

My Department recognises the importance of maintaining and further developing a healthy honey bee population. With this in mind, the signing into law of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 repealed the out-dated 1908 Bee Pest Prevention Act. American Foulbrood and the Small Hive Beetle are both notifiable diseases under the Notification and Control of Animal Diseases Regulations 2014 (SI No 110 of 2014). While American Foulbrood has existed in Ireland for many years the Small Hive Beetle has never been found in Ireland. In response to the 2014 outbreak of Small Hive Beetle in Italy my Department established a sentinel apiary programme earlier this year. This programme was established with the support of the Federation of Irish Beekeeping Associations and the Native Irish Honey Bee Society. Volunteer beekeepers in areas which are considered to represent greatest risk for the introduction of pests such as the Small Hive Beetle, as well as other beekeepers are participating in this programme. Over 20 beekeepers providing a representative geographical spread across the country are involved. A similar programme has also been rolled out across Northern Ireland. The sentinel apiary programme is designed with the objective of providing early notification in the event that any exotic pest or disease affecting honey bees arrives in Ireland. My Department co-ordinates the programme and has provided the equipment and guidelines to the beekeepers and also provides the diagnostic service to implement the programme.

In addition, a bee diagnostic service is operated from the Teagasc laboratories at Teagasc, Oakpark in Carlow. Analysis of approximately 300 samples submitted by beekeepers each year are carried out and my Department is informed where a case of a notifiable disease is detected. Officials in my Department follow up where appropriate.

The option of national action to limit or ban imports of bees must respect the primacy of EU Regulations. The EU has strict bee health certification requirements which apply to the international trade in bees. In accordance with Article 3 of Council Directive 92/65/EEC European Union Member States must not prohibit or restrict for health reasons the international movement of bees once all requirements set down in EU legislation have been met. While some Irish beekeepers seek to ban imports of bees into Ireland it must also be borne in mind that other Irish beekeepers wish to import these bees. Direct imports of bees into Ireland from outside the EU are not permitted although imports from other EU Member States which fulfil the EU’s bee health certification requirements are permitted.