Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 23 Nov 2000

Vol. 526 No. 5

Written Answers. - Passports for Pets.

John Perry

Question:

60 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will give an update on the passports for pets programme; if details of the quarantine programme are available; if the United States of America will be one of the countries included in the programme; the countries which are included; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27154/00]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

At present, all dogs and cats entering this country from countries other than Great Britain, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, must undergo a period of at least six months detention and isolation in approved quarantine premises on arrival here and be subject to one anti-rabies vaccination during quarantine.

Since February 2000 the UK has been operating a pets pilot scheme which allows pet cats and dogs meeting certain conditions to enter the UK along certain approved routes without a quarantine requirement. In Ireland, we made a minor adjustment to our laws to allow pets that have entered the UK under the pets pilot scheme to travel on to Ireland without quarantine.

From February 2001 the UK intends to extend its scheme to approve all points of entry into the UK, and to extend the list of qualifying countries to include rabies free islands. I am carefully monitoring the progress of the UK pilot pets scheme with a view to making a similar adjustment to our quarantine laws next year, provided our examination reveals no additional risk to public or ani mal health. It is hoped to have an Irish pet passport scheme in place next year.

The objective in changing the quarantine regime is to facilitate the maximum possible number of travellers, while ensuring that public and animal health in Ireland continues to be protected. I envisage maintaining the common control area which at present exists between Ireland and the United Kingdom and consequently the list of qualifying countries for pets entering here is likely to be the same as that for the UK. It is not anticipated, for the present at any rate, that the USA will be one of the countries included in the scheme.

Finally, there is at present a draft Commission proposal to regulate the movement of pet animals in Europe. This proposal is broadly similar to the UK pilot pets scheme and provides for the free movement of pets subject to a number of criteria in relation to vaccination, blood testing and identification of the animal being met. This proposal is unlikely to be in place prior to the introduction of a direct entry scheme in Ireland next year.

The following are the rabies-free islands qualifying under the pet travel scheme from February 2001: Ascension; Australia; Barbados; Bermuda; Cyprus; Falkland Islands; Hawaii; Japan; Malta; Montserrat; New Caledonia; New Zealand; St. Helena; Singapore; Vanuatu.