Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 84: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will assume overall responsibility for animal welfare in her Department; and if so, the areas of responsibility that will be transferred from other Departments. [27092/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government contains a number of animal welfare-related commitments, all of which are currently being advanced in my Department. Among those commitments is one to consolidate responsibility for the welfare of all animals (including non-farm animals) within my Department.

At present, a number of other Departments/Agencies have animal welfare responsibilities and work is progressing on identifying the actions required to effect the transfer of those responsibilities to my Department. My Department is also drafting a comprehensive Animal Welfare Bill, which will update existing legislation and ensure that the welfare of animals is properly protected and that the penalties for offenders are increased significantly. Where it is necessary to transfer statutory responsibility for animal welfare to my Department, the necessary statutory provision will be made in the forthcoming Bill.