Questions

592. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action his Department is taking in view of the fact that tropilaelaps, a parasite mite originating from Asia, is now present in Europe and spreading west; if they are monitoring the progression of this pest, in view of the fact that this pest is a severe threat to the Irish Honey Bee, and once established, eradication is not achievable…

31. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the work his Department is undertaking to protect Ireland’s native and solitary bee populations; whether it is supporting or engaging with online platforms and citizen-science initiatives that allow the public to record, monitor and support native bee populations; and whether further support for such initiatives is being considered. [70…

988. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current status of the Protection of the Native Irish Honeybee Bill 2021; and the measures being taken to protect the native Irish honeybee apis mellifera mellifera from the impact of imported non-native bee strains. [65264/26]

615. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide an update on measures to protect the native Irish honeybee. [53182/26]

616. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the results of the independent experts' analysis of the research provided to his Department in December 2024 in relation to the native Irish honeybee assessment, as recommended by the Attorney General; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53263/26]

735. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the status of the bill to ban the importation of non-native honey bees, first introduced in 2021; the reasons for the delay in progressing the bill beyond Second Stage in Dáil Éireann for the past 16 months despite cross-party support in Seanad Éireann; and the measures, he intends to take to advance this…

1470. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will agree to the request for the public release of the research commissioned into the threats to the native Irish honeybee (apis mellifera mellifera) due to the introduction of imported honeybees into Ireland; if he will facilitate the Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill 2021 and ensure that all members of the …

1479. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures currently in place to protect the native Irish honeybee population and preserve its genetic integrity whether his Department has conducted any assessment of the impact of hybridisation and non-native bee imports on the Native Irish Honey Bee population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42108/26]

1480. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports, funding schemes or conservation programmes currently available to beekeepers and organisations working to protect the native Irish honeybee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42109/26]

1481. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether consideration is being given to the introduction of additional protections or policy measures aimed at conserving the native Irish honeybee and supporting sustainable beekeeping practices; the engagement his Department has had with beekeeping groups, researchers and stakeholders regarding concerns about the loss of native b…

1482. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department intends to develop a national strategy for the protection and conservation of the native Irish honeybee; the steps being taken to raise awareness of the ecological and agricultural importance of the native Irish honeybee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42111/26]

1498. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the controls in place on the importation of non-native honeybee subspecies into the State; if these controls are considered sufficient to protect native populations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42825/26]

1499. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review biosecurity measures relating to bee imports, including the risks of disease transmission and genetic dilution of native bees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42826/26]

1506. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the independent scientific assessment report (details supplied) of the health of the Irish honeybee which was commissioned by his Department and submitted to him in October 2023 will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43045/26]

466. Deputy Joe Cooney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the Protection of the Native Irish Honeybee Bill 2021; when the Bill is expected to progress further; if his Department is considering other legislation or mechanisms to protect the native Irish honeybee in the interim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40926/26]

826. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he proposes to introduce legislative measures as requested by beekeeping organisations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37750/26]

144. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department has undertaken any assessment of the ecological and biodiversity benefits associated with protecting the native Irish honey bee population; the measures currently in place to prevent genetic dilution from imported honey bees; the supports available for conservation breeding and native bee monitoring programmes; a…

324. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the immediate actions being taken in response to the recent International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classification of the wild western honeybee (apis mellifera) as endangered within the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60654/25]

325. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current status of the Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill 2021; the reasons for the delay in progressing it beyond second stage in the Dáil; and the timeline for its enactment given the escalating biosecurity threats now confirmed in Ireland, including the Asian hornet. [60655/25]

326. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures being taken to prevent the importation of non-native honey bee subspecies and colonies which contribute to introgressive hybridisation and disease transmission; and if consideration will be given to an immediate administrative moratorium on imports pending legislative action. [60656/25]

327. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has conducted a recent assessment of Ireland's biosecurity readiness to prevent the introduction of new honey bee pests such as tropilaelaps mites and the small hive beetle; and to provide details of contingency plans currently in place. [60657/25]

328. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Department will engage with the Department of the Climate, Energy and the Environment, and with the Northern Ireland authorities, to establish an all-island biosecurity protocol and joint strategy for the protection of apis mellifera, Ireland's native black honey bee. [60658/25]

745. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the financial support which will be made available to farmers for nature restoration in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55102/25]

97. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the schemes in place to support the creation and enhancement of hedgerows and other linear and connective landscape features of value to wildlife; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35769/25]

195. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current number of deer management units (DMU’s) nationally; the current number of staff employed in each DMU; the current number of vacancies in each DMU, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36364/25]