Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 5 May 1999

Vol. 504 No. 2

Written Answers. - Animal Experiments.

Trevor Sargent

Ceist:

196 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Health and Children the plans, if any, he has to reform the licensing procedure for animal experiments ensuring that the validity of the experiment using animals can be questioned before it takes place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11274/99]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Cowen):

Directive 86/609EEC on the protection of animals used for scientific and other experimental purposes was implemented here by statutory instrument. Some further technical amendments are required to the transposition of the directive and these will be completed by the end of the year.

Under the existing licensing arrangements the experimental procedure for which a licence is being sought must be certified as being essential and there is no alternative scientific method reasonably and practically available. This certification is done by qualified persons of professorial standard from relevant scientific, medical or veterinary disciplines before being submitted to my Department.

The European Commission established a European centre for the validation of alternative methods. Ireland supports the work of this centre which has been established to promote the scientific and regulatory acceptance of alternative methods which are of importance to the biosciences and which reduce, refine or replace the use of laboratory animals. Advances made in this area are taken note of in policy in relation to this matter.