Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 February 2017
222. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if legislation is being brought forward to ban the use of wild animals in circuses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9068/17]
View answerThe conditions under which circus animals are kept and managed come under the scope of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, which contains rules relating to the welfare of all animals and requires a person having an animal under his or her control to safeguard and not endanger the health and welfare of the animal.
My Department continues to engage with stakeholders, including circus groups and animal welfare organisations, in relation to the welfare of wild animals in circuses. According to the information currently available to my Department, there are in fact very few wild animals currently performing in Irish circuses. I have no plans at this juncture to ban the use of wild animals in circuses.
