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EU Regulations

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 June 2021

Wednesday, 23 June 2021

Questions (316)

Holly Cairns

Question:

316. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures that in place to monitor compliance with chapter V, 1, 1.4 (a) of the Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33927/21]

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Written answers

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine takes its responsibilities in the matter of animal welfare very seriously and exercises close oversight, and deploys considerable resources to the area of animal welfare in general, including in respect of animals being transported.

The Department approves and oversees compliance in respect of the transport of animals from Ireland to the EU, taking into account all relevant elements of the Regulations and, in particular, to ensure that animals are not transported in a way that is likely to cause injury or undue suffering to them. This is the key principle which underpins all transport of animals from Ireland. 

Official Veterinarians have on occasions accompanied cattle on their journeys whilst being transported over long distance and this practice will resume once the COVID-19 situation has improved to the point where it is deemed safe to do so. Enforcement of the return of satellite navigation and temperature monitor data was stepped up in 2020 and several retrospective checks of this data were carried out to ensure drivers and transporters respected the statutory journey times and resting times for animals.

Many years of experience of transporting animals on regular and direct links between Ireland and the EU has affirmed our view that the welfare of animals transported under these conditions are not injured nor subject to undue suffering.

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