Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 May 2022
812. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has considered discontinuing the practice of supplying worming treatment upon arrival into Ireland and instead implement a protocol whereby pets and animals would be subject to consistent administration of veterinary care and treatment (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27612/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraDogs may enter Ireland either as a pet movement or a commercial movement. The requirements for a pet dog to enter Ireland are outlined in Regulation (EU) 576/2013. The requirements for a dog to enter Ireland as a commercial movement are outlined in Regulation (EU) 429/2016. All dogs entering Ireland from any country apart from Finland, Malta, Norway or Northern Ireland, must be treated against tapeworm (specifically Echinococcus multilocularis) by a vet and the treatment recorded in the pet passport or EU health certificate before entry into Ireland. The treatment must contain praziquantel (or equivalent) and must be administered by a veterinarian no less than 24 hours (1 day) and no more than 120 hours (5 days) before the scheduled arrival time of the dog. This is because the states/territories with special arrangements listed above, along with Ireland, are free of Echinococcus. Removing this requirement for treatment before entry would potentially leave Ireland vulnerable to the introduction of Echinococcus. Additionally it would be impossible to monitor and enforce treatment after entry for every pet dog that enters Ireland from every country.
Recognising the exceptional circumstance created by the invasion of Ukraine, temporary arrangements have been put in place to allow people travelling from Ukraine to Ireland to be accompanied by their pets, even if the pets are not in full compliance with EU Travel Regulations. In accordance with Article 32 of Regulation (EU) 576/2013 and, by way of derogation from the conditions provided for non-commercial movements of pet animals, Member States may, in exceptional situations, authorise the non-commercial movement into their territory of pet animals which do not comply with the conditions in Regulation (EU) 756/2013.
Temporary exceptional humanitarian arrangements have therefore been put in place for refugees from Ukraine. They are allowed to enter Ireland with their pets under specific conditions. In the first instance, they must pre-notify by email the point of entry they will be arriving to in advance and animals must be presented to Department staff at the point of entry for examination.
Where pets are not fully compliant with EU regulations, my Department’s veterinary services are taking steps to bring these animals into compliance with the legislative travel requirements, to protect our domestic population and protect public health. These measures include microchipping animals, providing tapeworm treatment and rabies vaccination for pets, as required. All non-compliant pets must then be placed in home isolation for a minimum of four months after vaccination. My Department is keeping this exceptional response measure under review.
These exceptional measures only apply to accompanied pets from Ukraine. All other movements of animals (unaccompanied, commercial, unknown origin, stray animals, animals from shelters) that do not meet regular requirements for entry, cannot be accepted into Ireland without full compliance with legislatively prescribed health certification.
The requirement for dogs to receive treatment against tapeworm plays an important role in maintaining Ireland’s Echinococcus multilocularis free status.
Question No. 815 answered with Question No. 811.
