Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yes. It covers all animals. According to the legal opinion I have on this amendment, this proposal was discussed in the Seanad and, unlike the similar wording in section 8, it was agreed not to amend the wording from "necessary" to "reasonable". This section is fundamental to the Bill. Furthermore, while it is relatively clear-cut with regard to the buildings or fences and the requirement to stop animals straying, the scope for unscrupulous individuals to interpret "reasonable" to the detriment of animals in this section is too major to ignore. We did make the change in respect of straying animals because animals stray and get knocked down as a result. The heart of this section concerns the onus on the owner or the person looking after animals to look after their welfare. People should have to do everything necessary to do that.