Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 January 2024
1170. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will advise on the implementation of animal welfare standards as part of the rules in relation to live exports; the process of certifying vessels used to carry livestock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56448/23]
View answerIreland is subject to the EU’s framework of legislation on the protection of animals during transport, and has also introduced national rules with regard to the transport of livestock on dedicated livestock vessels which goes above and beyond the relevant EU rules.
Ireland’s principal national legislation on the transport of animals on dedicated livestock vessels is S.I. Number 356 of 2016, the Carriage of Livestock by Sea Regulations (as amended). This lays down several innovative controls on animal welfare during transport by dedicated livestock vessel.
Aspects of this legislation were mentioned by the European Commission report of 2020, ‘Welfare of Animals Exported by Sea’, as examples of good practice:
For a livestock vessel to gain approval to carry animals from an Irish port, Ireland requires that it must
• fly the flag of a country listed in the 'white list' (published by the Paris memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control),
• have its statutory certificates issued by a Recognised Organisation with a
• “performance level” recorded as “High” in the “Recognised Organisation performance table” and
• be operated by a company with a “performance level” not listed as “low or very low” (as published by the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control).
Another example of good practice, similarly cited in the above-mentioned report, is that Ireland uses the services of marine engineers together with specialised official veterinarians, for the inspections of vessels applying to be approved to carry livestock form Ireland.
The vessel inspection process assesses a wide range of factors including stability criteria, ventilation capacity and back-up, vessel’s electrical generating capacity, drainage, fire-fighting, lighting and water supply. Certificates carry an expiry date following which the ship must be re-inspected and re-approved if it is to load animals in Ireland again.
Each loading of livestock onto dedicated vessels for transport to non-EU countries is monitored and supervised by a team of experienced Department officials, both at the assembly centre and at the exit port. The Department assesses and approves such voyages only where the requirements of the legislation are met by the operators.
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine officials ensure that animals are fit for transport and comply with the terms of their health certification, as well as ensuring that journeys are only allowed in conditions whereby animals can be transported in compliance with the EU's animal welfare legislation and with Ireland’s national legislation.
