merrion street

Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine, Andrew Doyle, today welcomed the arrival of beehives to the Department’s Backweston Campus in recognition of World Bee Day on 20th May.

Minister Doyle said

“I am delighted to welcome the arrival of beehives to the Backweston Campus as part of the initiative to highlight World Bee Day, contribute to the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan and promote my Department’s role with regard to the Irish beekeeping sector.”

The Minister continued by saying

“The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine recognises that there are various challenges facing bees and other pollinators and is committed to working with the relevant stakeholders to address these challenges.”’

Last December, the United Nations declared the 20th May as World Bee Day, adopting a resolution proposed by Slovenia and supported by all EU Member States. The aim of World Bee Day is to raise awareness of the importance of bees and other pollinators, through education and activities to highlight the threats they face as well as their contribution to sustainable development following a decline in population numbers over recent years.

Pollinators are critically important for the environment and the economy. The 2015-2020 All-Ireland Pollinator Plan outlined that the value of pollinators for human food crops grown in the Republic of Ireland has been estimated as at least €53m per annum. This estimate excludes the added value achieved through pollination of wild plant species and the benefits this brings to the wider economy.

The honeybee is the most important managed pollinator species. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine supports Irish beekeeping through a number of initiatives including the National Apiculture Programme, provision of a free disease diagnostic service for Irish beekeepers, providing aid to support the activities of national beekeeping organisations and provision of grant aid for capital investments by individual beekeepers in specialised beekeeping related equipment and structures.

The GLAS Scheme is also playing a key role in protecting and enhancing biodiversity across the Irish countryside with over 50,000 farmer participants. Installation of bee boxes and bee sand are two specific measures within GLAS aimed at supporting solitary bees through the replacement of lost habitats. In addition under the Scheme there are several other actions which support measures that have potential to impact positively on pollinators, e.g. maintaining cover of Low Input Permanent Pasture and Traditional Hay Meadows. These two measures aim to preserve native flowers which are important food sources for pollinators.

Emphasising the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s commitment to the Actions set out in the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan the Minister concluded by saying

“we all have a role to play in making Ireland pollinator friendly.”