Invasive Species Policy
Seanad Éireann — 2026-05-26
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PJ Murphy (FG), Agricultural Panel

I thank the Minister of State for his reply. Speaking as somebody who worked for over 20 years as a commercial beekeeper, I am aware of the fact that bee imports into Ireland are reducing, but reducing is not enough. They have to be stopped completely. When it comes to introducing disease, parasites and breeding that cannot be controlled once it is in the country, the only acceptable number of imports is zero. That can only be achieved with a complete ban on the import of bees.
NUIG fulfilled the requirement of answering the report in September 2025. That was nine months ago. It is past time for that report, its findings and the response to the report to be published by the Department. We do not know where we are going until we know the findings of that. Their publication is long overdue. I urge the Minister of State to work with the Department and the Minister for agriculture to ensure the publication of that report as soon as possible.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-05-26/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:59+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-05-26