Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE) | Oireachtas source

I had a look again through the programme for Government. I was struck by the number of commitments to improve animal welfare standards. There is even a reference to prioritising equine welfare based on a robust traceability system, which would certainly raise eyebrows after last weeks RTÉ's "Prime Time Investigates" programme. I will focus on Dublin Zoo, an issue I raised previously. There is evidence to suggest that the zoo continues to fall below appropriate animal welfare standards. There have been protected disclosures and allegations made in the Dáil and Seanad and there has been an investigation by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, NPWS. I understand that last week a zebra in the zoo was shot dead with a gun. It was euthanised with a gun, as opposed to with an injection which is the appropriate and normal approach in zoos around the world. This was not done by a vet and vets are the only people licensed to do it. It is not the case that the zebra was running around endangering people. There is a serious question about this event and there are other serious questions about the zoo. A question that has never been looked relates to the involvement of Management Support Services, MSS, at Dublin Zoo. This company is also involved in the notorious Ashton Dog Pound where all sorts of abuse of dogs and so on took place. A new, independent investigation is needed into what is happening in Dublin Zoo.

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