Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 May 2026
816. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding his Department's report commissioned in relation to the native Irish honey bee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37659/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra817. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the interest groups and experts that have been engaged with in relation to his Department's report commissioned on the native Irish honey bee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37660/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra818. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the timeline for publication of his Department's report in relation to the native Irish honey bee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37661/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra819. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the basis for any delays in progressing his Department's report in relation to the native Irish honey bee commissioned in October 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37662/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra820. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the framework and basis of his Department's report in relation to the native Irish honey bee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37663/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 816, 817, 818, 819 and 820 together.
The Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill 2021, which seeks to ban the importation of non-native honey bees, is a Private Members Bill and is currently before Dáil Éireann, Second Stage.
Following advice from the Office of the Attorney General, my Department procured independent scientific evidence and in October 2023, a 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 was afforded the opportunity to respond to the evaluator’s comments and these comments were received in September 2025. My Department is currently finalising the overall response to the report.
My Department is very supportive of beekeepers and beekeeping associations and we regularly engage and participate in events and meetings organised by them.
