Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Boylan for raising the matter. At the upcoming European AGRIFISH Council meeting, the Cyprus delegation will share information with Ministers regarding the establishment of a new legislative framework for an EU positive list for the keeping of companion animals, as the Senator has outlined. Officials in the Department are awaiting the detailed wording of proposal of the Cypriot Government, and the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, will consider this carefully in advance of the meeting on 24 May.

Separately, and reflecting societal concerns about the keeping, breeding and trading of exotic animal species, officials in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine have been asked to take the lead in establishing an independently chaired interdepartmental group to ensure a coherent national approach to policy and regulation related to exotic animals. This reflects the fact that such matters involve a number of Departments. The Senator has outlined her concerns, which I understand, about exotic animals. The situation is evolving. Exotic animals can have an impact in areas other than agriculture. It is important that all stakeholders and Departments are engaged in the process This is what we are doing with the interdepartmental group. This in line with the programme for Government and Ireland's Animal Welfare Strategy 2021-2025 - Working Together for Animal Welfare. Initial meetings of the group have taken place and its work will focus on regulating the keeping, breeding and trading of exotic animals. All aspects of these areas and models for best practice will be considered by the group in developing new regulations.

We are awaiting the detailed wording of the Cypriot proposal. We will give it due consideration and the Minister will work on it prior to the meeting on 24 May to see the implications of moving to a positive list as opposed to a negative list. With any regulation, we want to check there are no unintended consequences with regard to how it would affect other species. All of these issues will need to be considered when we have the detailed wording of the proposal from the Cypriots.