Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)

I repeat that the Government strongly condemns any cruelty or mistreatment of any animal. We carry out risk-based assessments. We also carry out investigations into any allegations of illegal or criminal behaviour and we prepare files for the Director of Public Prosecutions, as appropriate. That is a strong priority of my Department. We take that responsibility very seriously. I want to be very clear on that.

My Department recently published an updated specification for new pig housing under TAMS 3, with requirements including more space, more comfortable flooring, more feeding space and farrowing pens of 6.5 m. sq. Sows can only be kept in a crate for a few days around farrowing, and the rest of the time they must be loose in the pen. Housing constructed in line with this specification will enhance pig welfare and enable farmers to move towards rearing pigs with long tails. We are working on that in a very clear direction. We take a very serious approach to any infringement of animal welfare laws, which is our role. We continue to engage at a European level on the future direction of policy regarding the points Deputy Murphy raised.

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