Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Blake and Ms Muldoon to the committee. Both of their reports were very comprehensive and extensive. I thought they might have had an executive summary. We have already read them but it is great to have. I will start by saying I found Mr. Blake's briefing note especially helpful. So much has been achieved. I feel that is important to acknowledge.

I also acknowledge, of course, the absolute commitment of the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, in terms of the stand-alone Working Together for Animal Welfare: Ireland’s Animal Welfare Strategy 2021-2025 document. It is something I do not think we have given enough attention to in the Houses of the Oireachtas. I acknowledge his absolute commitment and personal interest in it, which is to be welcomed. I wish to put that on the record.

I will take the witnesses through one or two comments and questions. I will start with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Rather than criss-crossing, the witnesses might be able to share the questions or do whatever they think is appropriate. I thank them again for their detailed submissions.

Mr. Blake said that perspectives on animal welfare are influenced by both science and values. I thought that was interesting because it puts two different perspectives on it. I am not asking Mr. Blake to comment but I thought it was well put. I want to acknowledge that. He might comment at some later stage because, again, I am only going to deal with issues he raised in his submission today rather than go off on a tangent. He talked about the chair in animal welfare and veterinary ethics at UCD’s school of veterinary medicine. At some point, it would be helpful for the committee to have an update on that. Someone might send us in something because that is exciting and has great potential. The Department may perhaps forward details at some point.

I am a little bit concerned about a number of issues here. Mr. Blake said, "There is no legal requirement to approve or register canine germinal product establishments, and the Department does not maintain a list of canine fertility clinics." I am somewhat shocked and surprised by that. Mr. Blake might share his view on it. Would he like that to change? Does he have a strong recommendation on that? I am somewhat surprised by that statement. That is news to me. He might comment on that.

Mr. Blake said the Artificial Insemination of Greyhounds Regulations 2005 introduced a regulatory framework around the practice in the greyhound industry and that the practice is licensed and subject to veterinary oversight. That is somewhat different. We have two different regimes operating here, both with dogs. He also said the regulation and enforcement is carried out by the Irish Coursing Club. I am not sure if that is right or appropriate. This is only a question. I have no hard views on it. I am somewhat surprised. Is that the appropriate body for enforcing and monitoring this? Does Mr. Blake have a particular view? He might have no view, and that is fair enough.

Moving on, Mr. Blake noted reports from animal welfare charities on the numbers of dogs with cropped ears being seized and surrendered and the issue of illegality. I know he cannot comment on specific cases but that is of concern. Somebody is carrying out these practices. Who is investigating them? What sanctions are in place? I know it is very hard to prove and all of that. There may be a particular cohort of people who want to parade these dogs out in the streets. Again, however, it is concerning. Mr. Blake said the Minister may be bringing forward some legislation or regulation. As chief veterinary officer, what would Mr. Blake's view be in addressing that? He said the Department believes it is now necessary to revisit this legislation to support more effective investigation and enforcement in the area of cropped ears. Mr. Blake might tease out what he is thinking there.

Mr. Blake concluded by saying that the Department operates a confidential animal welfare helpline. That is marvellous but I do not think enough people know about it. I go to animal shows throughout the country. We need to have a campaign. I would like Mr. Blake to take that back to the officials in his Department to see how we can open a campaign with regard to this. I do not know if people know about it.

I have been contacted about people keeping tropical and exotic animals such as parrots or reptiles in their gardens, which causes all sorts of problems. When people try to talk about it, however, they are told not to in no uncertain terms, in unpleasant language, and are basically threatened with violence. They are told that if they want to keep living next door to the owner of these animals, they must keep quiet. That is not good enough. People ask whether the confidential contact number is really confidential. They ask if these guys can get at them or get their name under a freedom of information, FOI, request. I am aware of one particular case where a person was told that he or she could be identified through an FOI request. There is, therefore, much fear and intimidation around all this illegal or unmanaged activity. It might not be all illegal but it is uncontrolled. There are issues for animal welfare, nuisance behaviour and the residential amenities of people. How do we safeguard that? These are just issues Mr. Blake raised.

What is most alarming is that the Department received 881 complaint reports in 2021. We now know that 268 complaints have been received in the first quarter of the year so far. That is a considerable increase in only three months. I would like Mr. Blake to comment on that. As I said, he may not have a comment on all these issues.

I will move on to the Veterinary Council of Ireland. Ms Muldoon said the Veterinary Council initiated nine authorised officer investigations in 2021 into matters requiring investigation in the public interest and three sets of District Court proceedings.

What is happening? They are a long time going. What is the outcome of any of these? Are these all ongoing investigations? I want to hear what sanctions are in place. We hear about investigations but we do not always hear the outcomes or, more important, the sanctions. If they are live cases, clearly Mr. Blake cannot comment on them.

It should be noted that some aspects of the artificial insemination in greyhounds, which is an area of real concern, may be carried out by non-veterinarians. I presume the Veterinary Council has a very strong view on that; I would like the committee to hear that view. There are issues around licensing and veterinary oversight. People genuinely have concerns about this practice. Do we need to beef or tidy up the legislation? What are Mr. Blake’s views?

I know I am asking many questions, but on fertility clinics and canine artificial insemination, the Veterinary Council currently has about ten investigations under way. Again, these were under way in 2020, but this is 2022. They are still under way – or are they not? Mr. Blake identified that these were happening in 2020 and it is 2022 and he is not in a position to comment on them. I respect that. However, that says there is a problem. If an investigation lasts two years, the likelihood of being successful in that investigation would be slightly hampered I would have thought, by just the time delays. That concludes my commentary.

The issue, as I said, of regulating artificial insemination in animals, who is doing it and how it is managed, controlled and how all of that is accounted for is an area of serious concern and I do not have the answers. I would like to hear what Mr. Blake thinks would be important in terms of beefing up the legislation in that regard.