Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 September 2015
503. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the regulations in place governing the sale of domesticated and wild animals at markets and car boot sales; and the penalties in place for breach of any such regulations [30926/15]
View answerThe Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, which was commenced in March 2014, strengthened laws on the welfare of animals during sale and places clear obligations on persons who have possession of an animal for sale or supply. Specifically, Section 21 of the Act provides that an animal being offered for sale is kept in suitable accommodation, has access to a ready supply of suitable food and drink and is not sold at an age that is likely to cause unnecessary suffering to the animal.
Section 21 also includes provisions safeguarding the animal at time of sale against fire, environmental or other hazards. Section 22 of the Act regulates the sale of animals to minors and prohibits the sale of an animal to a person aged under 16 years. The Act provides significant powers to authorised officers to inspect any premises where animals of any species are kept. A person who commits an offence under Section 21(2) of the Act is liable, on summary conviction, to a class A fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or to both, or is liable, on conviction on indictment, to a fine nor exceeding €250,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 5 years, or to both.
