Animal Welfare.

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 January 2010

Tuesday, 19 January 2010

Questions (799)

Tom Hayes

Question:

867 Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government if he had a meeting with animal welfare activists in his Department in the weeks leading up to the vote on the Lisbon treaty, as reported in the media; the date of that meeting; the groups with whom he met; the persons who represented those groups; the purpose of that meeting; the person who initiated the meeting; and if he has met shooting or hunting organisations during his term in office. [1098/10]

Written answers

Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Deputy John Gormley)

I met representatives of the Alliance for Animal Rights on 30 June, 2009 at their request to discuss a number of issues with regard to my responsibilities under the Wildlife Acts. I also met members of my Party's animal welfare policy group on 28 September, 2009 in the context of the review of the Programme for Government. Neither meeting was related to the Lisbon Treaty. While I have not had the opportunity to meet with shooting or hunting bodies to date, my Department has regular meetings with various shooting and hunting bodies in relation to the implementation of the relevant provisions of the Wildlife Acts and wildlife issues in general.