Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 March 2024
976. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what measures his Department is taking to ensure animal welfare standards are increased during the transport of live exports; and what measures are being taken to ensure time limits on travel are being adhered to. [11732/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine only permits animals to be transported in compliance with the EU's animal welfare legislation.
Ireland has also introduced its own national legislation regulating animal welfare during transport of livestock in dedicated livestock vessels (typically to countries in the Mediterranean region). These lay down more stringent controls that go beyond those in EU law. Furthermore, over the past three years, my Department has introduced extra controls on animal welfare during long distance transport by road, such as additional checks to prevent transport of animals during hot weather, an increase in the minimum space allowance for calves in trucks that is more than that specified in EU rules, and a requirement for drivers and attendants to undergo training every three years, rather than ten years as formerly.
Department officials and inspectors monitor compliance through a system of official controls, including advance checks of weather along the proposed journey, and veterinary inspection of lorries, livestock vessels and of all animals before they travel. Journeys must be notified to the Regional Veterinary Office two working days in advance, and veterinary certification will only be provided where the journey complies with all animal transport and animal welfare regulations. Furthermore, there is a requirement to notify the Regional Veterinary Office of the outcome of the journey and the condition of the animals on arrival, together with satellite navigation data from lorries where required, to facilitate verification that transporters complied with rules on resting times and maximum transport times.
Since the scaling back of COVID-19 restrictions, Department veterinary staff have occasionally accompanied calves on board ferries from Ireland on a proportion of journeys during the peak spring season for calf trade.
The Government supports the international trade of animals as it plays an important part in competition in the marketplace particularly. In that context, however, the Government demands the highest standards of animal welfare during transport.
