Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 26 May 2021
237. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the appropriate action a farmer should take in the event of a livestock being grazed on their land without permission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28553/21]
View answerThe matter of livestock grazing on land without the owners permission is primarily a civil matter between the two parties involved.
Under Section 8 of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, for the purpose of disease control and prevention, a person who has in his or her possession or under his or her control a farm animal shall take all reasonable measures to ensure the animal is unable to stray from the land or premiseswhere it is kept. This includes maintaining buildings, gates, fences, hedges, boundary walls and other structures used to contain the animals are constructed and maintained in a manner that minimisesthe risk that the animal will stray.
Breaches of the legislation can be reported to the Department's network of Regional Veterinary Offices or An Garda Síochana for investigation in respect of these aspects.
