Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 352: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she will confirm that the division of responsibilities on inspecting animal laboratories between her Department and the Department of Agriculture and Food has been settled; if she will outline this division of responsibilities; when inspections will resume; if inspectors will attempt to compensate for the dearth of inspections in recent months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4808/07]

Mary Harney (Dublin Mid West, Progressive Democrats)
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Under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876, as amended, the role of inspectors is to advise the Authority (the Minister for Health and Children) on relevant aspects of applications for licenses to perform animal experiments and applications for registration of premises as user/breeding/supplying establishments and to carry out periodic inspections to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Act.

Since 1969, veterinary officials of the Department of Agriculture and Food have been appointed as inspectors under the Act. That arrangement has been the subject of recent discussions between officials of my Department and of the Department of Agriculture and Food and I can confirm that the Department of Agriculture and Food has agreed that their veterinary staff will continue to act as inspectors.

The Department of Agriculture and Food has indicated that inspections of some of these facilities have been undertaken by their officials in recent months and that it is proposed to continue those inspections in the future within the resources available.