Tony Gregory
Question:181 Mr. Gregory asked the Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 273 of 22 October 2002, if he will detail the concerns raised by the Commission. [20726/02]
Written Answers. - Animal Protection.
The European Commission indicated that it was not satisfied that the combination of statutory provisions and administrative arrangements put in place by my Department was sufficient to fulfil Ireland's obligations under Council Directive No. 86/609/EEC on the protection of animals used for experimental and other scientific purposes. In particular, the Commission raised the following issues with regard to the European Communities (Amendment of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876) Regulations, 1994: the need for a definition of ‘experiment'; the designation of a national competent authority to authorise the setting free of animals; procedures for advance notification of experiments and of details of persons conducting such experiments; appropriate penalties for non-compliance with the directive. The new regulations, which are currently being finalised by my Department in conjunction with the office of the Attorney General, will fully address the issues raised by the Commission.