Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy O'Sullivan and her colleagues on bringing forward this motion. I thank Deputies McConalogue and Cahill for sharing their time and giving me this opportunity to speak on it. I am not as well briefed as my two spokespersons on agriculture and I am coming at this issue under a completely different guise, as a person who loves animals. My family and I love animals. I see the wonderful work the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, ISPCA, does in supporting the various Departments and in working with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

We had the Ballinasloe Horse Fair this week, to which Deputy O'Sullivan alluded. That fair gives a fantastic economic boost to the town and the surrounding areas, which is very welcome. However, it is very disturbing when one goes on to Facebook or Twitter and sees disturbed puppies or young dogs that are caged in and being kept in overcrowded conditions. The Minister of State spoke about the principle of the five freedoms for animals, namely, freedom from hunger and thirst, freedom from discomfort, freedom from pain and injury, freedom to exhibit natural behaviours and the freedom from fear and distress. That was not the experience of some animals this weekend, although that possibly happens in many places throughout the country. We have a large gathering in the Gallery tonight because a large proportion of our people believe in and live by those principles, just as do the Minister of State and I. It is quite disturbing to see animals in such conditions when one brings one's family to fairs or various events. That is not what we believe in. That is not what we have amended the legislation for and is not what it is about.

Deputy Wallace spoke about not having enough inspectors or enforcements. We need to see more of that. The ISPCA is seeking that. It wants to help out more and to be more involved. It is the eyes and the ears looking out for the welfare of small animals, for the wee puppies being presented and for the aforementioned old greyhounds and the lurchers.

Deputy Cahill hit the nail on the head. He spoke eloquently about the farmers who work very hard to protect and mind their animals but a segment of society wants to make money out of breeding dogs and their subsequent portrayal in cages is not the way people want to see animals.

I ask the Minister and the Minister of State to free up resources to support the ISPCA, to allocate it more money and to ensure that the people who have the powers can ensure adherence to the regulations. Reference was made to there having been 35 convictions but we are talking in large-scale terms. Deputy O'Sullivan spoke about puppy farms. There is also the cruelty that takes place at fairs or in the trading of animals where one sees animals caged in the back of jeeps or trailers. People do not like that and do not want that. That practice has to end. We call on the Minister and the Minister of State to address that.

I support our amendment moved by Deputy McConalogue which calls "on the Government and relevant authorities to ensure that the current animal welfare protection regulations are robustly enforced and that any offences which occur are promptly investigated and the full sanctioning power are applied". We also call "for adequate animal welfare funding by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to organisations who directly deliver animal care and welfare services". I will mention the Heathlawn animal sanctuary in my area. We also call "on the Government to ensure that the All Island Animal Health and Welfare Strategy is protected in upcoming Brexit negotiations to guarantee the continued operation of a unified animal health and welfare approach on this island". I do not want to repeat myself. I support our amendment to the motion. We have the legislation in place and what is needed is its enforcement at this stage.

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