Ireland’s native honey bee has survived for thousands of years, adapting to our climate and becoming a unique part of the country’s natural heritage.
But scientists warn that its future is under threat from hybridisation with imported bee strains.
A Private Members’ Bill currently before the Oireachtas aims to ban the importation of non-native honey bees in an effort to protect this distinctive population, while new scientific research is strengthening the case for legal protection.
Joining Alan Morrissey earlier to discuss why Ireland’s native honey bee is so important, and what could happen if it’s not protected, we Dr Grace Patricia McCormack, Personal Professor in the School of Natural Sciences and the Ryan Institute at the University of Galway, and Loretta Neary, Chairperson of Native Irish Honey Bee Society.
You can listen to the full interview here:
