DUP agriculture, environment and rural affairs spokesperson, Carla Lockhart MP, has hit out at Minister Andrew Muir, following confirmation that Northern Ireland currently has no dedicated bee inspectors in place.
In a written response to the Upper Bann MP, the Minister for the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), Andrew Muir, stated that there is no one solely responsible for bee inspections within the department at present.
Lockhart branded this omission as “complacent, careless and completely inadequate,” explaining that this leaves all bee health related issues routed through a single shared email inbox.
Commenting, Carla Lockhart said: ”This is a dereliction of duty and demonstrates a lack of understanding of the importance of a healthy bee population.
“The beekeeping community has been raising alarm bells for months, and I’ve personally challenged the DAERA minister on this issue several times. His correspondence confirms that there are currently no dedicated bee inspectors in post for any inspections.
“If they happen at all, the remit falls under a small number of general agriculture inspectors. And now, even contact with the department has been reduced to a generic email address. That is not a strategy.”
Bee population
Lockhart said that Northern Ireland’s bee population faces an existential threat as a result of the lack of governmental intervention on their behalf.
She claimed that the government has given no indication as to when it would reimplement an inspection service.
“The bee inspection service has collapsed, and there’s no clear plan or timeline to fix it. In the face of serious threats to bee health like foulbrood, this isn’t just careless it’s dangerous.
“Bees are amazing creatures. They are essential pollinators, vital to our food supply and ecosystems. Without them, biodiversity suffers, crop yields fall, and the wider agricultural sector is put at risk.
“To see such a vital part of our natural and farming environment treated as an afterthought is frankly disgraceful,” she said.
She has demanded that the government reinstate services and take responsibility for the damning outlook.
“Beekeepers deserve better. Our farming sector deserves better. And our environment demands better.
“I will continue pressing the DAERA Minister until we see meaningful action, proper accountability, and a full restoration of vital inspection services,” Lockhart said.
