Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 February 2026
833. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he intends to progress the Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill 2021 to the next legislative stage; if he will confirm whether his Department has concluded its internal review of the independent scientific assessment commissioned in 2023 and delivered to his Department in December 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15044/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra834. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the independent scientific assessment on hybridisation and biosecurity threats to the native Irish honey bee, completed by a team of international experts and delivered to the Department in December 2024, has not yet been published; when this essential report will be released to the Oireachtas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15045/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra835. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he accepts the scientific evidence showing that hybridisation in Irish honey bee populations has increased at an alarming rate, including a 300% rise in introgression over a six year period; the immediate actions his Department is taking to protect the genetic integrity of the native Apis mellifera mellifera ecotype; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15046/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra837. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports his Department currently provides to Irish beekeeping organisations, namely NIHBS, FIBKA, IBA, UBKA, INIB, and the Irish Bee Foundation; whether his Department intends to strengthen these supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15048/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 833, 834, 835 and 837 together.
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.
Following advice from the Office of the Attorney General, my Department procured independent scientific evidence and in October 2023, a 12 month contract was signed with the National University of Ireland, Galway (NUIG) 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. The research service provider (NUIG) was afforded the opportunity to respond to the evaluator’s comments. This process has concluded and publication will be considered once the bill progresses in line with the procedures of the Oireachtas.
I note the statement by the Native Irish Honey Bee Society (NIHBS) at the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and Food (February 18th 2026) ‘that hybridisation in Irish honey bee populations has increased at an alarming rate, including a 300% rise in introgression over a six year period’. This was not brought to my Department previously and I would welcome the submission of the scientific evidence in relation to same to my Department for review.
My Department pays an annual grant to the NIHBS, Federation of Irish Beekeepers’ Associations (FIBKA), Irish Beekeepers’ Association (IBA) and Irish Bee Foundation (IBF). In 2025, the four national beekeeping federations received a total of €25,500 through this grant.
My Department also supports Irish beekeeping through the provision of grant aid for capital investments by individual beekeepers in specialised beekeeping related equipment and structures.
In addition, €121,000 was paid out under the National Apiculture Programme (NAP) in 2025 to support beekeeping through an approved applied research project.
The NIHBS also received funding in 2021 and 2024 under my Department's Conservation of Plant and Animal Genetic Resources Scheme for projects related to the conservation of the native Irish honey bee.
