Liadh welcomes All-Ireland Pollinator Plan

Sinn Féin MEP Liadh Ní Riada has welcomed a plan launched yesterday identifying actions to make Ireland pollinator friendly.

Speaking from Cork, Ms Ní Riada said,

“The fact that this plan has been put in place highlights that there are issues to be resolved and therefore it must be welcomed. The complete loss of insect pollinators would result in substantial economic losses and greatly increased food prices for the consumer

“Bees, one of the most common pollinators are the most important pollinator of crops and native plant species in Ireland. They are a key component of our wildlife and one of the busiest, least appreciated work forces we have. A study from the Department of the Environment found that bees are worth €53m a year to the economy.

“However, more than half of Ireland’s bee species have undergone substantial declines in their numbers since 1980. Therefore this plan is absolutely necessary and it is vitally important that it is implemented.

“The detail of the plan highlights the hard work that went into producing it and the participation of so many organisations including governmental, community, ecological and beekeepers must be commended. This is an island wide issue and I am delighted to see participation from both north and south.

“My colleague Lynn Boylan has been doing excellent work around this issue through her role on the EU Environment, Public Health and Food Safety Committee and I will continue to work with her to ensure proper measures are put in place to ensure Ireland is pollinator friendly.”

You can access the full plan here.