John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 427: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the body which is responsible to ensure circuses are in compliance with current laws, regulations and guidelines relating to animal welfare; the legislative requirements on circuses for the purchase and welfare of exotic animals; and if she is satisfied with current legislation or if there are plans to improve same. [9295/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department's responsibility for circuses and circus animals is confined to ensuring animals imported for use in a circus are imported in accordance with animal health certification requirements. Licences are issued in accordance with the Rabies (Importation, Landing and Movement of Animals) (Amendment) Orders 1972-76.

The Protection of Animals Acts 1911 and 1965 are the principal statutes governing the welfare of animals in this country. The responsibility for pursuing complaints under that legislation rests with An Garda Síochána. On receipt of such a complaint, the Garda Síochána has a statutory basis on which to investigate and bring a prosecution against any person alleged to have committed an act of cruelty against an animal.

Concerning new legislation, Commission Regulation 1739/2005, laying down animal health requirements for the movement of circus animals between member states, will apply from January 2007 and I welcome this as providing a clear framework for the monitoring of circus movement across the EU.