Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 94: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if, in view of the fact that she is prepared to administer ex-gratia payments to a number of organisations directly involved in the delivery of non-farm animal care and welfare services, she will accept, albeit non-statutory, responsibility for steering Ireland towards ratification of the European Convention for the Protection of Pet Animals; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9091/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has statutory responsibility for the welfare and protection of farmed animals under the Protection of Animals Kept for Farming Purposes Act 1984, and the European Communities (Protection of Animals Kept for Farming Purposes) Regulations 2006 (SI No. 705 of 2006). It does not have statutory responsibility for the care and welfare of other animals such as domestic pets or exotic animals.

I understand that the matter relating to ratification of Council of Europe Conventions and the responsibilities of Departments in that regard are still under consideration. Consequently it would not be appropriate that I would assume responsibility for these aspects.

Since 1995, my Department has made ex-gratia payments to a number of organisations directly involved in the delivery of animal care and welfare services. Until 2004, these payments were made from residual funds available in the Department's Vote at the end of the year. From 2004, specific provisions for this purpose have been included in and published as part of the Department's estimates. However, these payments continue to be ex-gratia and the granting of an amount in any year does not imply an entitlement to further amounts in subsequent years.