My Department has received this Master’s Report referred to, which was delayed in return. Department officials have been in contact with the shipping company, in relation to the discrepancy in regard of the ports of disembarkation, for its attention and follow up as appropriate.
The Master's report for this voyage shows that the same number of in-calf heifers that boarded in Ireland disembarked in Algeria. The report does not record any morbidity or mortality on the voyage and no evidence of any such morbidity or mortality has been reported to or come to the attention of my Department.
It is important to emphasise that the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine only permits animals to be transported in compliance with the EU's animal welfare legislation, which is amongst the most progressive legal frameworks in the world. Furthermore, Ireland has national rules to protect the welfare of livestock being transported on dedicated livestock vessels, which lay down controls that are more stringent than EU rules, and which have been cited as an example of best practice by the European Commission to other Member States.
Each loading of livestock onto dedicated vessels for international transport is monitored and supervised by a team of experienced Department officials. The consignment referred to was supervised in this manner.
EU Regulation 1/2005 requires that prior to travel an animal must be deemed to be fit for the intended journey. The Regulation does specify that a pregnant animal for whom 90% or more of the expected gestation period has already passed is not considered to be fit for long distance transport. Thus, as part of the official certification process, veterinary inspectors assess each animal to ensure it meets the conditions for fitness to travel as laid down in the regulations. Animals which do not meet these conditions are not allowed to travel.
The Department is conscious of the need to ensure the welfare of the animals in transit and, as the regulator in this area, is satisfied that the systems in place in respect of the intra-community movement and extra-community movement of these animals are supportive of the welfare of the animals and in compliance with the relevant legislation. The Department continues to monitor and enforce compliance, to ensure the welfare of animals transported.
