Written answers
Tuesday, 13 February 2007
Department of Agriculture and Food
Animal Welfare
10:00 am
Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 491: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will confirm that the division of responsibilities on inspecting animal laboratories between the Department of Health and Children and her Department has been settled; if she will outline this division of responsibilities; when officials from her Department will resume inspecting licensed premises; if they will attempt to compensate for the dearth of inspections in recent months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4809/07]
Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Statutory responsibility for legislation on the use of animals for experimental or other scientific purposes as regulated under EU and national legislation (respectively Council Directive 86/609/EEC and the European Communities (Amendment to Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876) Regulations, 1994) falls within the remit of my colleague the Minister for Health and Children.
In the past, current and recently retired members of my Department's veterinary staff carried out inspection visits on behalf of the Department of Health and Children. Following recent discussions between the Departments, inspections of some of these facilities have been undertaken by officers from my Department in recent months. It is proposed to continue those inspections within the resources available.
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