Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 380: To ask the Minister for Agriculture; Fisheries and Food when he expects to publish animal welfare legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41159/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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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. The consolidation of legislation into a single statute should prove considerably more convenient to all those who deal with or have an interest in animal health and welfare matters.

I propose to submit the proposed heads of this bill to the Government at an early date.