Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 474: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if her attention has been drawn to the fact that no legislation exists here banning the trade in cat and dog fur, that no legislation exists requiring the mandatory labelling of cat and dog fur products and that no data are collected here regarding the amount of trade of cat and dog fur, or the import of cat and dog fur; her plans to introduce legislation in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17524/07]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 475: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the position of Ireland in relation to the European Commission proposal to introduce a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council banning the placing on the market and the import of, or export from, the European Community of cat and dog fur and products containing such fur and specifically the representations made by Ireland to close the loophole in the proposal which would allow the trade to continue in the EU as long as the pelts are labelled as originating from cats and dogs that have not been bred or killed for fur production. [17526/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Question Nos. 474 and 475 together.

Last year the EU Commission presented proposals for a Regulation banning the import to or export from the Community and the placing on the market of cat and dog fur and products containing such fur. The proposal, which has my full support, was introduced to address EU citizens' concerns regarding the adverse treatment of companion animals slaughtered to obtain fur. It aims to create a harmonized approach in the EU on prohibiting all production, marketing and imports and exports of cat and dog fur. Once it is formally adopted, legislative measures will be introduced in Ireland to give effect to the ban on the production of and trade in such products.