The Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity, Christopher O'Sullivan TD, has confirmed that an operation led by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has located an Asian hornet nest close to Ringaskiddy, Co Cork.

The find follows reports of sightings in the area over the past week and represents a significant step in efforts to contain and eradicate the invasive species, which poses a serious threat to pollinators.

Specialists attached miniature tracking transmitters to hornets, enabling the response team to quickly trace individuals and pinpoint the nest location.

Minister O'Sullivan said: "In an operation like this, speed is critical. Once reports of Asian hornets were received, it was essential that every effort was made to locate the nest as quickly as possible.

"The use of this new technology has significantly strengthened our rapid response capability, allowing teams on the ground to track hornets back to their nest with remarkable efficiency. "I want to thank the NPWS Conservation Rangers, Cork County Council, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the National Biodiversity Data Centre for their swift and coordinated response. Their expertise and dedication were instrumental in locating the nest so quickly. I'd also like to thank the community in Ringaskiddy for their hospitality and co-operation during this operation.

"Our immediate priority is the safe removal of the nest and a thorough investigation of the surrounding area. Monitoring will continue over the coming days to ensure any further activity is identified and dealt with promptly.

"This operation demonstrates the importance of early detection, public reporting and rapid action in managing invasive species and protecting Ireland's biodiversity."

Niall O'Donnchú, Director General with the NPWS, said: "I want to commend the entire team, led by Regional Manager, Daniel O'Keefe of the NPWS, for the alacrity with which they were able to find this nest. And all within a matter of hours of tagging a subject Asian hornet.

"This is testament to the skill and tenacity of the team involved, including colleagues from the National Biodiversity Data Centre, led by John Kelly, and is proof again that the time invested in developing the protocol last year was time well spent.

"This is a very aggressive invasive alien species and the importance of finding the nest quickly cannot be overstated.

"Our teams will continue to work to establish that this is the sole nest in the vicinity and, again, we thank the public in Ringaskiddy and the Cork region for their vigilance, support and hospitality."