Vol. 564 No. 5
110 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he has received a submission from the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals on the need to introduce legislation to regulate the trade of exotic pets; if he proposes to introduce such legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9542/03]
My Department received a draft Bill entitled Exotic and Dangerous Wild Animals Bill 1998 from the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in May 1998.
The position is that responsibility for exotic animals is shared by a number of Departments. The Department of Environment and Local Government is responsible for matters relating to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, CITES, and the Wildlife Acts 1976 to 2000 and is also the competent authority in relation to the transposition and implementation of Council Directive 1999/22/EC of 29 March 1999, which concerns the keeping of wild animals in zoos. One of the measures to be taken by member states under this 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. The Office of Public Works has responsibility for Dublin Zoo.
The area in which my Department has a responsibility in relation to exotic animals is in respect of compliance with animal health regulations regarding veterinary certification at time of import and export. Provided there is compliance with such veterinary rules, there can be no restriction in inter-Community trade in exotic animals. With regard to the suggested legislation submitted by the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, it should be noted that the situation with regard to the keeping of animals in zoos is now subject to the provisions of Council Directive 1999/22/EC of 29 March 1999 concerning the keeping of wild animals in zoos. I understand that the Department of Environment and Local Government is currently transposing this directive into Irish law.
