2625. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update on the independent review commissioned in respect of the Protection of the Native Irish Honeybee Bill 2021; whether the report has been completed; whether it has been considered by his Department; whether he intends to publish it; whether legal advice has been obtained arising from its findings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58142/26]

The Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill 2021, a Private Members Bill, which seeks to ban the importation of non-native honey bees is currently before Dáil Éireann, Second Stage.

Following legal advice in relation to the Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill 2021, 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 has not requested any legal advice arising from the findings of the research report.