@BioDataCentre have produced this short video introducing the threat of invasive alien species to Ireland.

Invasive alien species are animals, plants or pathogens that would not naturally occur in Ireland but are here because of human activity.

When introduced, they thrive to the point of negatively impacting on our wildlife; the services nature provides; our economy, and the way we live.
Invasive species have been introduced intentionally for many reasons, but they may then disperse, escape or be released illegally
They can also arrive here accidently as hitchhikers on our vehicles and belongings or as contaminants on products.

IUCN Global Standard for classifying the severity and type of impacts caused by alien species, known as the Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (EICAT). This tool will alert scientists, conservation practitioners and policymakers to the potential consequences of invasive alien species, guiding the development of prevention and mitigation measures.

We normally associate alien species with extra-terrestrial life from outer space…. However, aliens are actually closer to home. Biologists use the term to refer to species which are dispersed outside their native range due to human activities. Most alien species populations never actually reach concerning numbers, but a small fraction, the invasive species, are more insidious. Under the right conditions their numbers explode.