Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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124. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill 2021; when the Bill will be brought before Dáil Éireann; if he supports the Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57502/25]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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The Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill 2021 which is a Private Members Bill is currently before Dáil Éireann, Second Stage. Progression of the Bill through Dáil Éireann is subject to the procedures of the Oireachtas.

When the Bill was proceeding through the Seanad my Department raised some concerns in relation to imposing a statutory ban on the importation of non-native honey bees as it could constitute a restriction on trade under EU Regulations.

Advice was sought from the Office of the Attorney General on this issue, and it was considered that a total ban on the importation of certain species of honey bee would most likely face significant scrutiny on proportionality grounds, having regard to the case law of the European Court. The Office of the Attorney General also concluded that the legal and/or scientific basis to impose a ban on the importation of non-native honey bees has not been established with required certainty and evaluation in terms of proportionality and necessity; and that a scientific assessment would be required to substantiate the specific measure proposed in the Bill. Therefore, my Department procured independent scientific evidence and in October 2023, a 12 month contract was signed with the National University of Ireland, Galway for the provision of research services on the native Irish honey bee (Apis mellifera mellifera).

The research work concluded in December 2024, and the research report was subsequently evaluated by an external expert. Following the completion of the evaluation the research service provider (NUIG) was afforded the opportunity to respond to the evaluator’s comments. This process has recently concluded and is under consideration.