John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 154: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Health and Children if an inspector from her Department last made a visit to a register user establishment licensed for animal experiment; the report of such an inspector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27753/06]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Inspections of registered user establishments are carried out in accordance with Section 10 of the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876, as amended. The Act provides for all registered establishments to be from time to time visited by inspectors for the purpose of securing compliance with the provisions of the Act. Veterinary staff of the Department of Agriculture and Food have acted as inspectors under a long standing arrangement with that Department: however, this arrangement is currently under discussion.

It is a function of the inspector to report to the Authority (Minister for Health and Children) any case of non-compliance with the provisions of the Act. My Department has received no such notifications in the past four years.