Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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406. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the regulations governing the importation of non-native bees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18044/21]

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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407. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the threat posed to native bees as a result of the importation of non-native bees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18045/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 406 and 407 together.

I fully acknowledge the important contribution bees make to agriculture and biodiversity as both pollinators and honey producers. In this regard, my Department 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. My Department has funded a number of studies under the Genetic Research Grant Aid Scheme looking at various aspects of this honeybee species and specifically apis mellifera melliferra. In 2021, funding has been allocated for an innovative queen rearing project.

In relation to the importation of honeybees into Ireland, this is allowed under regulations governing intra community trade with other EU Member States. The specific health requirements for trading in bees are 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 after a physical inspection of the bees and their packaging has taken place. This is to ensure that imported bees are healthy and do not harbour pathogens or parasites that may be harmful to our native bee stocks.