Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 341: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his plans to review his decision to exempt all commercial dogs being transported out of Ireland to the UK from having a pet passport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18915/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The EU 'Pet Passport' regime was introduced in 2004 to protect EU citizens from rabies. To travel between Member States all dogs and cats must have a pet passport certifying vaccination against rabies. However Ireland and the UK have been free of rabies since 1903 and have operated a common rabies free travel zone for many decades. Under the EU regime there is thus no requirement to vaccinate dogs and cats travelling between Ireland and the UK against rabies and consequently we do not require passports for such dogs and cats.

Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 342: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if authorised dog transporters have been checked to ensure that dogs commercially exported to continental Europe have pet passports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18975/10]

Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 345: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of spot checks that were made on authorised dog transporters from 2005 to 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19050/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 342 and 345 together.

Eight transporters of live dogs are authorised by my Department under Council Regulation (EC) No 1 of 2005 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations and amending Directives 64/432/EEC and 93/119/EC and Regulation (EC) No 1255/97 and S.I. No. 675 of 2006 [European Communities (Animal Transport and Control Post) Regulations 2006].

The number of spot checks carried out on authorised dog transporters is set down as follows: 2005 - 26 checks 2006 - 46 checks 2007 - 88 checks 2008 - 79 checks 2009 - 27 checks. Passports are not required in respect of the transport of dogs to Britain. The vast majority of dogs, leaving Ireland, travel to Britain.

Pet passports are not generally checked by our staff as they exit the port for the continent; as that would be the remit of the receiving country. All pet passports are subject to border checks as dogs arrive in this country from abroad.