Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 6 April 2017
278. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of prosecutions taken against exporters of live animals in each of the years 2013 to 2016 and to date in 2017 for contraventions of regulations governing the transport of live animals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17248/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraCouncil Regulation (EC) No. 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations lays down the requirements and conditions for the transport of live animals, including bovines, undertaken in connection with an economic activity, and the related operations of handling, loading and unloading. The Regulation is given effect in national legislation by the European Communities (Animal Transport and Control Post) Regulations 2006. (Statutory Instrument No 675 of 2006). My Department deploys a considerable amount of resources to the process of certifying animals for export and enforcing legislation on the welfare of animals going for export. Sanctions for contraventions include suspension of transporter authorisations and vehicle approvals, modifications of approvals as well as the issuing of Fixed Payment Notices and prosecutions.
The main measures taken by my Department to ensure compliance by operators with the legislation are as follows:
- Trucks are approved and transporters are authorised in accordance with the legislation
- Drivers must undergo training carried out to standards set by my Department and hold valid certificates of competence.
- Journey Logs must be submitted for approval by my Department in advance of any proposed long journey.
The following lists the number of suspensions issued to transporter vehicles as a result of infringements under the legislation.
|
Year |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
|
Number of suspensions |
2 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
The following Fixed Payment Notices (FPN) were issued regarding exports of live animals in the different years.
|
Year |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
|
Number of FPNs issued |
1 |
5 |
1 |
There is also national legislation in place for the carriage of livestock by sea from the state (The Carriage of Livestock by Sea Regulations 2016). These Regulations provide for the inspection and approval of livestock vessels which comply with specified criteria, the loading and care of livestock on vessels, conditions in relation to weather and the submission of voyage reports.
