The Federation of Irish Beekeepers' Associations

Lobbying Organisation The Federation of Irish Beekeepers' Associations

Date published 30 Apr, 2021

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area Agriculture

Period 1 Jan, 2021 to 30 Apr, 2021

Specific Details Importation of Honey Bees

Intended results The purpose of this communication was to seek the Ministers assistance to cease the importation of bees from the area of Puglia, Italy and surrounding areas by a UK based company who intended to route the importation of bees through the island of Ireland and on to the GB.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Gus McCoy

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? Yes

What is the directive you gave to the grassroots campaigners? Requested our affiliated Associations to contact their local representative in relation to the importation of honey bees from Puglia area of Italy, with a view to them lobbying the Minister for Agriculture to cease this activity.

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Letter (2-5)

The area in Puglia, Italy has an out break of a devastating bee parasite, the Small Hive Beetle which completely destroys and consumes everything within the hive, eventually killing the hive.

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Pippa Hackett Super Junior Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Charlie McConalogue Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)