Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

A protected animal is defined as "...an animal of a kind commonly kept for farming, recreational, domestic or sporting purposes on the island of Ireland ... when it is in the possession or under the control of a human being, whether permanently or on a temporary basis or not living in a wild state...". In other words, the animal must be in captivity. An intensive housing unit is defined as "a premises on which farm animals are kept under the husbandry system for the purpose of providing for the care of the animal on automatic equipment to such an extent that a failure of that equipment would, if it were not rectified or if some alternative arrangements were not made for the care of the animal contained therein, cause the animal unnecessary suffering". The inspections ensure the feeding and water systems are working and cover poultry units, intensive piggeries and so on. Farmers with slatted sheds should not have a concern. I will examine the issues raised by the Senator, but unless officials got the legislation wrong in 1984, there will not be a problem.