Written answer
Wildlife Protection
The Protection of the Native Irish Honey Bee Bill 2021, which would ban imports of non-native honeybees, remains at Second Stage. The Department outlined EU health controls on bee movements and supports native bee conservation through funding for beekeeping federations, equipment, research and genetic-resource projects.
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]
Comment on this
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. Progression of the Bill through Dáil Éireann is therefore subject to the procedures of the Oireachtas.
The movement of bees within the European Union is governed by Regulation (EU) 2016/429 (the Animal Health Law) which is supplemented by Commission Implementing and Delegated Regulations (Regulation (EU) 2020/688 and 2021/403). These EU regulations contain specific provisions to safeguard the health of bees located in the territory of the Union.
Bees moving to Ireland from another EU Member State must be notified to my Department at least 24 hours before the consignment’s arrival. These consignments must also be accompanied by a health certificate which has been issued by the Competent Authority in the Member State of origin.
Bees entering Ireland from a third country are subject to official controls before entry is permitted. In Ireland, my Department is the Competent Authority responsible for carrying out import controls in accordance Regulation EU 2017/625 on Official Controls.
My Department is very supportive of beekeepers and beekeeping associations and the work that they do in the conservation of the native Irish honey bee. The Annual Grants to Irish National Beekeepers Federations, which is Exchequer funded, provides funding to the four Irish National Beekeepers Federations to help their associated members to pursue the craft of beekeeping to the highest standards and to also inform the public about the environmental role that bees play in maintaining Irish biodiversity and crop production. In 2025, the four national beekeeping federations received a total of €25,500 through this measure for various initiatives.
My Department also supports Irish beekeeping under the Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Horticulture sector through the provision of grant aid for capital investments by individual beekeepers in specialised beekeeping related equipment and structures, including specialised bee breeding equipment and honey extraction equipment .
In supporting research initiatives, €121,000 was paid out under the National Apiculture Programme in 2025 to support beekeeping through an approved applied research project being conducted by UCD- called PROBEE.
My Department also provides funding under the Conservation of Plant and Animal Genetic Resources Scheme. The Native Irish Honey Bee Society received funding in 2021 and 2024 under this scheme for projects related to the conservation of the native Irish honey bee and their application under the 2026 Scheme has also been approved.