Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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545. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has any plans to highlight the dangers of the 'Asian hornet' in Ireland in a public campaign; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36227/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Asian Hornet poses a serious threat to our honey bee colonies and to all our pollinators. In Ireland, the first discovery of a live specimen of Asian Hornet occurred on the 25th of April 2021.

As the Asian Hornet is considered an invasive species it falls under the responsibility of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The NPWS leads on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species.

My Department engages regularly with the NPWS and the National Biodiversity Data Centre regarding the threat of the Asian Hornet and officials from my Department also participate in the British-Irish Council Asian Hornet Taskforce Meetings.

My Department plays a proactive role in raising public awareness on the threat the Asian Hornet presents and actively encourages all beekeepers and members of the public to report any suspected sightings.

Suspected sightings can be reported to my Department at beekeeping@agriculture.gov.ie or alternatively through an online form or via the Biodiversity Data capture app.

My Department also runs an Asian Hornet Monitoring Programme. The Programme provides volunteer participants with Asian Hornet traps free of charge and participants can submit any suspect samples for further analysis and identification to my Department's laboratory.