Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 209: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she has plans to update the legislation relating to animal welfare, as it applies to companion animals; the discussions she has had with her counterpart in Northern Ireland on an all Ireland approach to this issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27739/07]

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 being progressed within my Department. One of those commitments provides for the consolidation of responsibility for the welfare of all animals, including non-farm animals, within my Department.

Work is also progressing on the drafting of a new Animal Welfare Bill which will update existing legislation, to ensure that the welfare of all animals is properly protected and that the penalties for offenders are increased significantly. My Department works closely with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland across a range of areas of mutual interest and concern, particularly in the areas of animal health and welfare and as work progresses on the drafting of the new legislation, we will have the opportunity to consider the possibility of further alignment of legislative provisions in the area of animal welfare.