Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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564. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to remove barriers concerning pet dog, cat and ferret travel between Ireland and the UK; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25805/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Prior to January 2021, cats, dogs and ferrets entering Ireland from the United Kingdom - as from all EU Member States - had to be microchipped, vaccinated against rabies and accompanied by an EU Pet Passport.

Since then, as a consequence of the UK leaving the EU, there are additional requirements for pet cats, dogs and ferrets entering Ireland from Great Britain. There are, however, no changes in respect of such pets entering Ireland from Northern Ireland.

The additional requirements in respect of each pet travelling, or returning, from Great Britain to Ireland are as follows:

• they may only enter Ireland through certain Travellers’ Points of Entry - Dublin Airport, Dublin Port, Rosslare Port, Port of Cork at Ringaskiddy, Shannon Airport and Cork Airport.
• they must travel with either a health certificate issued by a UK official vet, or an EU pet passport. (EU pet passports issued by Northern Ireland remain valid for EU movement if they have been marked with a sticker by the issuing vet in Northern Ireland). This includes affirmation as to rabies vaccination status. An EU pet passport that was issued in GB is not valid for travel to the EU, even it was issued before January 2021.
• Dogs travelling from, or returning from, Great Britain to Ireland require treatment against Echinococcus multilocularis (tapeworm) by a veterinarian 24 to 120 hours (1 to 5 days) before arrival in Ireland.