Victor Boyhan (Independent)
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I was speaking about the Working Together for Animal Welfare strategy that goes from 2021 to 2025. We are halfway through the strategy. What is very important is that it has five segments or elements. These are: working in partnership; evidence-based policy making; improving education and knowledge; consistent project evaluation; and assessment and effective regulation and legislation. It is a very good strategic document. Perhaps it is now due a revamp. Much has been achieved under it. I acknowledge this and I thank the Department for it. I have a suggestion that I ask Mr. Ryan to take back to the Department. It is a good strategy and much has been done. The message should be sent out that a lot has been achieved. Perhaps there should be another interim review. I acknowledge it and it is very important. As Mr. Ryan said, it is a stand-alone policy document to which the Department can refer.

My next question relates to page 5 of Mr. Ryan's opening statement, which states the four approved database operators are required to provide details to Europetnet of the microchip data they hold. Nothing more is said about this, which is interesting in itself. Will Mr. Ryan tell us a little bit about it? Are they compliant with all of it? Is the Department impressed by it? Is there more that could be done on it? Are there shortcomings in it? What is the professional observation of Mr. Ryan and the Department?