Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 300: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the Animal Health and Welfare Bill will be published; if he is aware of the urgent need to update legislation in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35283/10]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 302: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to publish and circulate the long promised Animal Health and Welfare Bill; to detail the work, if any, done in the drafting of the Bill to date; and if he agrees that current legislation providing for animal welfare is totally adequate. [35405/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 300 and 302 together.

Preparation of the Animal Health and Welfare Bill which gives effect to commitments in the Programme for Government and the Renewed Programme for Government on issues relating to animal health and welfare is ongoing in my Department. The new bill will consolidate and update a wide range of existing legislation to ensure that the welfare of all animals, including non-farm animals, is properly protected and that the penalties for offenders are increased significantly. This consolidation into a single statute will be of considerable convenience to all those who deal with or have an interest in animal health and welfare matters.

Following the public consultation process initiated on the draft Bill, almost 400 submissions/comments were received from organisations and individuals with an interest in animal health and welfare matters. Officials from my Department met with a large number of these organisations and individuals to provide an opportunity for elaboration on the respective submissions. Drafting of the bill is continuing, taking account of the comments received during the consultation process, together with the animal welfare commitments contained in the renewed Programme for Government. The proposed heads of the bill are nearing completion in my Department and I propose to submit them to the Government at an early date.