Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)

This concerns the humane destruction of animals. Section 23 indicates that an authorised officer or veterinary practitioner should carry out this action, setting out when it should be done if an animal is fatally or severely injured, where it would prevent the animal from further suffering. We are raising the issue because of cost, as knackery personnel could be given the scope to do the act.

Section 23(2) states, "If an authorised officer, a veterinary practitioner acting as such or a person specified in animal health and welfare regulations", and knackery personnel are professionals. They deal with the issue on a daily basis and they could be allowed to put down an animal and put it out of its suffering if an animal is fatally injured. In west Connemara or west Donegal there may be very few vets on the ground. If an animal became injured on a farm, a vet could be on the other side of the county and it could take him or her half a day to return. An animal could be suffering unnecessarily in that time.