Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 441: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will review plans to ban the process of electro immobilisation of farm animals in the interest of safety for farmers and professionals working with animals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8465/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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In 2004 the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Council requested the Scientific Advisory Committee on Animal Health and Welfare to evaluate the physical and psychological effects of electro-immobilisation on farm animals subjected to this procedure and to furnish a view. The Committee examined all aspects and recommended that the practice should be prohibited. My Department sought the considered views of all relevant stakeholders on the recommendation. Having considered all of the views received, I decided to accept the recommendation of the Committee to prohibit the use of electro-immobilisation on live farm animals. The ban is due to come into effect on the 1st June 2007. The stakeholders whose views had been sought have been notified of that decision.

While I am aware of the possible risks to operators in the handling of large and difficult animals, I am in no doubt that the continued use of electro-immobilisation cannot be justified on animal welfare grounds for the purposes for which it has been used. The ban was announced on the 13th April 2006 and is due to come into effect on the 1st June 2007, which allowed a period of time to deal with those animals where interventions might be necessary. My Department has published notices in the farming press reminding farmers and veterinarians that this ban will take effect on the 1st June, 2007. Further information has been sent directly to veterinarians which also emphasized the importance of promoting early intervention in relation to dehorning, debudding etc. of animals. Similar information is currently being distributed to farmers.