Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

My colleague has gone through the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 and we stress the need for greater resources to enforce the legislation. The welfare of animals is paramount for everybody involved in the agricultural sector. I am a farmer and farmers pride themselves on the way their animals are cared for. The standards in which animals are kept in this country are extremely high, though there are always a few exceptions. The majority of our dairy and beef farmers are in quality assurance schemes at the moment which have strict welfare regulations embroidered into them. Those regulations have to be adhered to if farmers are to have access to the market. In the dairy sector, 100% of farmers are in quality assurance and the percentage in the beef sector is also extremely high.

In the bovine sector there is sometimes cruelty to animals but I was on the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Council at its inception and we set up a liaison group with the ISPCA in order that the farming organisations could monitor these cases. Invariably, they were caused by psychiatric or mental issues with the herd owner. Whether a combination of bad weather or financial circumstances caused their mental stress, things got on top of them and they were not able to cater properly for their animals. Thankfully, there is now a structure in place which can deal with that. The stock on such farms can be greatly reduced and when he consistently fails to adhere to proper welfare standards, a herd owner can be prohibited from keeping animals on his holding. This ensures that, in the minority of cases where animals are held in poor conditions, the situation is rectified.

There has been a lot of focus on live exports and our shipping regulations.

Strange bedfellows come together at times. Commercial interests here have tried to put barriers in the way of life exports for a number of years. I compliment the Minister, since taking up office, on opening up extra markets for live exports, which is essential for the economic viability of our beef sector.

The regulatory standards under which our animals are exported are at the highest possible level. They are even above what the EU requires. The welfare of animals transported in ships is second to none. I note a parliamentary question was tabled today in which the level of mortality on those shipments is questioned. I can assure that Deputy that the economic margin for those exporters is tight. If for no other reason than economics, they will ensure the animals arrive at their destination in very good condition. To have people question the way our live exports operate is just not on. We find it frustrating at times to get ships registered for exporting our animals. It is a very slow process and probably rightly so. When those ships are passed for the transport of cattle for export, the standards at which they operate are second to none.

The greyhound Bill was mentioned by a number of speakers. It has gone through the Oireachtas joint committee and has gone to drafting stage. It will tighten up the regulations in the greyhound industry and restore confidence that the regulations that are in place will be properly adhered to. The stricter guidelines that will be put in place will ensure that there will be public confidence in the greyhound industry.

The export of greyhounds was also mentioned and it was stated that their export should be banned to certain countries around the world. Our greyhounds should be exported to countries where welfare standards are correct. That should be taken as a given. People should not make a statement to the effect that the United Kingdom is the only destination that is fit for the export of our greyhounds. That is not correct. Other countries have very stringent welfare regulations with respect to greyhounds. That can be monitored and regulated. The export of greyhounds is commercially essential to the existence of our greyhound industry.

There has been a constant attack on hare coursing. People should recognise that were it not for the habitats that are regulated by the coursing clubs, the hare population in rural Ireland would be under serious threat. Coursing clubs put a great deal of effort into ensuring that a habitat exists for hares. All hare coursing is strictly monitored. People should recognise the role the custodians of the rural countryside play in protecting the hare.

While we welcome the thrust of the motion, as Deputy McConalogue stated, we have tabled an amendment to it. We hope the Government will put more resources in place because the welfare of animals is in all our interests.

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