Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 739: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has responded to the recent incident where a dog was thrown out of a car window in County Mayo and found with multiple injuries caused by cruelty; if any investigation or action has been taken against the person who perpetrated that act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41471/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department's legislative responsibility currently extends to the welfare and protection of farmed animals only i.e. animals normally bred or kept for the production of food or for use in or for the purpose of farming. The relevant legislation in this area is the Protection of Animals Kept for Farming Purposes Act, 1984 and the European Communities (Welfare of Farmed Animals) Regulations 2010, S.I. 311 of 2010. Dogs do not come within the scope of this legislation but do come under statutes governing cruelty to all animals, namely the Protection of Animals Act 1911 and the Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act, 1965. Responsibility for pursuing breaches of this legislation rests with the Garda Síochána, who may on receipt of a complaint investigate and bring a prosecution against any person alleged to have committed an offence under these Acts.

There are commitments contained in the Programme for Government 2011 to amend and strengthen legislation on animal cruelty and animal welfare. The main instrument to fulfil this commitment will be the Animal Health and Welfare Bill which is a wide-ranging piece of legislation providing a broad basis for regulating the related areas of animal health and welfare. Drafting of the Bill is ongoing with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel and it is my intention to publish the Bill at an early date this year.