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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Jan 2001

Vol. 529 No. 1

Written Answers. - Exotic Pets.

Pat Carey

Question:

348 Mr. P. Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development his legislative proposals to deal with the problem of people buying exotic animals as pets; his views on the draft legislation proposed by an organisation (details supplied) which would regulate such trade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30534/00]

Tony Gregory

Question:

354 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the steps he has taken with regard to the growing problem of exotic animals kept as pets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30540/00]

Pat Carey

Question:

361 Mr. P. Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he has any legislative proposals to deal with the growing problem of people buying exotic animals as pets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30586/00]

Róisín Shortall

Question:

442 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the plans he has to introduce legislation or to take any other measures to regulate the trade in exotic pets; if his Department have accepted the proposals for legislation from the Dublin Society for Protection and Cruelty to Animals in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2510/01]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 348, 354, 361 and 442 together.

The current position is that responsibility for exotic animals is shared by a number of Departments. The Office of Public Works has general responsibility specifically for Dublin Zoo. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species is under the aegis of the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands. The Department of the Environment and Local Government is the competent authority in relation to Council Directive 1999/22/EC of 29 March 1999 relating to the keeping of wild animals in zoos. One of the measures to be taken by member states of the EU under the directive is to prevent the escape of animals in order to avoid possible ecological threats to indigenous species and to prevent the intrusion of outside pets and vermin. Veterinary certification on import is the only area where my Department has a responsibility in relation to exotic animals. Provided there is compliance with veterinary rules, there can be no restriction in inter-Community trade in exotic animals and consequently these animals may legitimately be kept in member states of the European Union.

In view of the dispersed nature of responsibilities in this area, my Department took the initiative some time ago to set up an interdepartmental group to examine issues relating to dangerous and exotic animals in this country. While the group has held a number of meetings it has yet to recommend how best to deal with the problems created by such animals. It will, no doubt, in due course address the question of legislation and the appropriate authority to implement it. I am aware of the draft legislation furnished to the Department by the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and believe that it will be of interest to the group in its work.

From the foregoing it is clear the present demarcation situation is complicated and that there is not yet a basis for asserting or proposing that any one of the agencies concerned should be solely or primarily responsible for this matter. Nonetheless, I do appreciate that a variety of concerns arise in this area and have asked the inter departmental committee to expedite its work on this issue.
As regards the protection of animals, the Protection of Animals Acts, 1911 and 1965, are the principal statutes governing cruelty to animals in Ireland. The legislation is enforced by the Garda, who may, on receipt of a complaint, investigate and bring a prosecution against any person alleged to have committed an act of cruelty against an animal in this country. This Department is acutely aware of the need to prevent cruelty to animals and for this reason it took the opportunity offered by the Control of Horses Act, 1996, to increase significantly the penalties for cruelty under the 1911 Act.
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