Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 363: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the Programme for Government to introduce a new Animal Health Bill to consolidate and amend previous legislation to reflect the changed disease status of the nation's animals. [18141/08]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 369: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the Programme for Government to introduce a comprehensive Animal Welfare Bill, updating existing legislation. [18147/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 363 and 369 together.

Significant progress has been made on drafting the new Animal Health and Welfare Bill and I intend shortly, to initiate a process of public consultation by publishing a consultation paper and inviting submissions from interested parties and other stakeholders.

The Bill will give effect to a number of important commitments, in the area of animal health and welfare, contained in the Programme for Government. It is a comprehensive piece of legislation, which will amend and consolidate previous legislation to reflect the changed disease status of our nation's animals and update existing legislation, to ensure that the welfare of all animals (including non-farm animals) is properly protected and that penalties for offenders are increased significantly. The Bill also contains provision for repealing and revoking a number of pieces of existing legislation as some of the principal Acts in this area date to 1911. Drafting of the Bill will continue after the consultation process, having regard to the various submissions received.