Vol. 526 No. 3
183 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason the animal transport law has not been enforced, particularly, Council Directive 91/628/EEC, as amended by Council Directive 95/29/EC. [26640/00]
190 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will correct his Department's failure to properly enforce the EU animal transport laws, Council Directive 91/628/EEC, as amended by Council Directive 95/29/EC, concerning the protection of animals during transport and put into place measures that henceforth will ensure that it is effectively enforced at all times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26329/00]
I propose taking Questions Nos. 183 and 190 together.
Although a small number of cases exist where breaches of the rules by third parties have been identified, I am satisfied that my Department is properly applying EU animal transport laws.
As regards breaches, a recently published report of the food and veterinary office of the commission on approved staging posts and long distance transport of animals in France included, inter alia, a reference to a small number of specific instances where people responsible for the transport of animals from Ireland did not appear to have strictly adhered to EU welfare rules. A number of matters raised in this report relate to the implementation of animal welfare rules on French territory, and these are a matter for discussion between the French authorities and the commission.
However, my Department has been in touch with the commission in relation to this matter and has written to approved livestock hauliers to remind them of their obligation to adhere to rules in relation to the protection of animals during transport, and advising them that I will consider revoking the licences of hauliers found to have been in breach of these rules. I will continue to treat animal welfare as a matter of the highest priority and I can assure the Deputy that I remain fully committed to ensuring that EU rules in relation to animal transport are effectively enforced at all times.
