Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)

I move amendment No. 9:

In page 14, subsection (2), lines 4 to 7, to delete paragraph (b).

Section 12(2)(b) reads, "cruelly treat or beat, kick, ill-treat, over-work, over-drive, over-load, over-burden, torture, mutilate, infuriate or terrify an animal, or cause, procure or permit an animal to be so treated, infuriated or terrified". My amendment is to draw attention to this paragraph which is over-descriptive. There is nothing in it about normal agricultural practices. The definition appears to cover all agricultural practices because very often normal farming practices, even when conducted professionally, can include infuriating animals. Examples include trying to put a bull into a trailer and practices where animals are dealt with in close confines such as sheep dipping, dosing and tail docking and the de-horning of animals. Many everyday farming practices appear to fall under the definition in section 12. While I propose the deletion of paragraph (b), I would be willing to accept a prescriptive definition exempting normal farming practices.