9 Nov 2015

Call for ban of neonicotinoid insecticides

5:11 pm on 9 November 2015

The Green Party is calling on the Environmental Protection Authority to order neonicotinoid insecticides off retail shelves, in a bid to save bees.

Picture of bees taken in Colomiers, southwestern France, on June 1, 2012.

A swarm of bees at a hive Photo: AFP

Even the most minute traces of neonicotinoid insecticides could harm bees, Green MP Steffan Browning said today after launching a public campaign at Parliament.

The Environmental Protection Authority should urgently reassess the use of neonicotinoids, he said, but he wanted to see sales stopped immediately.

"We do know that these things affect bees negatively," he said.

"We do know that beekeepers are losing bees, and we're here to help the beekeepers help bees pollination, and help urban gardeners, in the same breath."