Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is not adequate. It is even more concerning that the designated animal welfare officer can be an employee or, I presume, part owner of a slaughterhouse and can declare that they have "committed no serious infringement of EU or national law on the protection of animals [and animal welfare] in the three years preceding the date of application for such a certificate". I find that remarkable. I would have thought that if somebody is found to have made a serious infringement of animal cruelty law, they would never be allowed to work as an animal welfare officer.