Victor Boyhan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 8:

In page 17, between lines 2 and 3, to insert the following: “(i) such abstraction that may be required on animal welfare grounds.”.

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, who is picking up on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke. I wish the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, well. I will set the scene as the Minister of State, Deputy Noonan, is new to the brief for this section of the Bill. I undertook to table nine amendments on behalf of the Irish Farmers Association, IFA. These amendments were not written by me; they were written by the IFA. I know the IFA relies on its own research, but it also has its own bureau which advises it well. I add that none of these amendments have been ruled out of order, which is an interesting point. I am a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and Marine and am also a member of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage, as I was reminded. However, I did not need to be reminded; I believe I made that remark in my opening comments before anyone else spoke.

There is always a challenge during pre-legislative scrutiny. While it is very informative and important, it is not where the legislation is made. I am usually a great advocate of taking as much detail as possible from the pre-legislative scrutiny into the legislative process. However, I have considered these amendments and I believe in bringing different ideas, perspectives and opinions to the table and at least discussing them and teasing them out.

The Bill was initiated in the Seanad and will subsequently go to the Dáil, which has a bigger political scope and bigger political groupings allowing it to tease it out in more detail. The Dáil may change many of the things that we may or may not decide to do in this House.

I want to set out the rationale for the amendment. The IFA has requested that the paragraph be included on account of animal welfare. The current legislation does not allow for an exemption on these grounds. Besides water availability, the quality of water has a direct impact on the welfare of animals. Therefore, livestock need to drink more water under heat stress and when forage conditions are poor. Overall, the IFA believes we need to do more to ensure the animal welfare can be protected in order that we can provide the highest quality produce to Irish customers and our trading partners. That is the rationale for this amendment. I could go on at great length but it is not my intention. I want this to be a meaningful engagement. I look forward to hearing the Minister of State's response.