Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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1451. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a study has been carried out into the introduction of non-native honey bees here and the affect they are having on the native honey bee apis mellifera mellifera; his plans to introduce a control on the import and spread of bees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22166/20]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I fully recognise the important role bees play within agriculture and for biodiversity, both as pollinators and honey producers. My Department provides a range of supports and initiatives to encourage and assist beekeepers and the national beekeeping associations. These supports include, but are not limited to, 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.

Regarding research into Apis mellifera mellifera, my Department has funded a number of studies under the Genetic Research Grant Aid Scheme looking at various aspects of this honeybee species, opportunities for funding further research on this topic still exist via this mechanism and potentially through any future calls through the Research Stimulus Fund (RSF) and other national funding opportunities. My Department also supports the work of the Native Irish Honey Bee Society

The importation of honeybees into Ireland is provided for under intra-Community trade with other EU Member States. The specific health requirements for trading in bees is laid out in Council Directive 92/65/EEC. All imports of bees must be accompanied by a health certificate issued by the country of export. This aims to ensure the bees that are imported are healthy and do not harbour pathogens or parasites that may be harmful to our native bee stocks.