"Float like a butterfly": Irish beekeepers face threat from foreign imports and the EU single market

Attorney General warns banning non-native honeybees may breach EU trade regulations

Beekeepers across the country continue to produce quality honey but are worried about the future of their sector.

“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee” was how Muhammad Ali once described his elegant style in the boxing ring.

The phrase has since become a broader metaphor for a philosophy of being flexible and flowing in life but delivering decisive action when the moment is right.

It matches the current mood of beekeepers across the country who continue to produce quality honey but are worried about the future of their sector.

The country’s estimated 4,400 beekeepers are facing massive challenges from non-native bees, honey imports and diseases including the Asian Hornet.

Tipperary South Independent TD Mattie McGrath recently raised their plight in the Dáil when he asked when will the Protection of the Native Irish Honeybee Bill 2021 be brought before the House and if the Minister for Agriculture supports it.

Minister of State Michael Healy-Rae, (Ind), Kerry, said the Private Members Bill is currently before Dáil Éireann, Second Stage. Progressing it is subject to the Oireachtas procedures.

“When the Bill was proceeding through the Seanad, my department raised some concerns in relation to imposing a statutory ban on the importation of non-native honeybees as it could constitute a restriction on trade under EU Regulations.

“Advice was sought from the Office of the Attorney General on this issue, and it was considered that a total ban on the importation of certain species of honeybee would most likely face significant scrutiny on proportionality grounds, having regard to the case law of the European Court.

“The Office of the Attorney General also concluded that the legal and/or scientific basis to impose a ban on the importation of non-native honeybees has not been established with required certainty and evaluation in terms of proportionality and necessity,” he said.

Minister Healy-Rae said scientific assessment would be required to substantiate the specific measure proposed in the Bill.

Therefore, his department procured independent scientific evidence and in October 2023, a 12-month contract was signed with the National University of Ireland, Galway, for the provision of research services on the native Irish honeybee (Apis mellifera mellifera).

He said the research work concluded in December 2024, and the resultant report was subsequently evaluated by an external expert.

Following the completion of the evaluation, the research service provider (NUIG) was afforded the opportunity to respond to the evaluator’s comments. This process recently concluded and is under consideration. Earlier this year, Galway Senator PJ Murphy (FG) told the Upper House that as a commercial beekeeper for more than 20 years, he clearly understood the problems and threats posed by both the deliberate and accidental introduction of new species to the island.

“We need to be much more restrictive on honeybee imports. I am quite concerned about the lackadaisical approach taken by both this Government and the previous Government in advancing through the Dáil the legislation that passed through this House more than two and a half years ago on restricting and limiting the imports of queen bees into Ireland” he said.

Senator Murphy asked during a previous debate that the apiculture sector be properly funded and that the creation of large-scale sanctuaries for the native Irish honeybee be financially incentivised for farmers and landowners as well for the designation of all State-owned land to this status.

Meanwhile, scientists at University of Galway have revealed data which shows that the Native Irish Honeybee, which has been documented since the 7th century, is different from all others.

Professor Grace McCormack, lead researcher, has urged beekeepers and researchers alike to protect the bee before it is lost.

“It is clear from the experiences of beekeepers and our research that imported bees don’t do as well in our relatively wet, cool environment,” she said.

Taidghe Éireann-Research Ireland supported the study, and the findings have been published in the Journal of Apicultural Research.

The research was conducted by a team at the university’s School of Natural Sciences and the Galway Honeybee Research Centre in collaboration with the Native Irish Honeybee Society.