Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the problem of a skulk of foxes in the Dun Laoghaire - Rathdown area; the service provider or assistance that is available to persons to solve this health and safety issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11516/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The legislative responsibility of my Department covers farmed animals only. However, while foxes do not come under the remit of my Department, I am nevertheless aware of reports of the number of foxes living in urban areas in recent times. The fox is not a protected species under the Wildlife Acts (1976-2012). My Department does not have plans to implement a control programme for foxes. However, the Deputy may wish to explore this issue further with the relevant local authority.

Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress of the Animal Welfare Bill; the effect the bill will have on the live export of cattle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11703/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Animal Health & Welfare Bill has been passed by the Senate and has completed Committee Stage in the Dail. While the Bill is for the most part general in its application, its provisions do apply during the transport of animals.

In view of the fact that the transport of animals is governed by Council Regulation No 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport, which is implemented in Ireland via Statutory Instrument No 675 of 2006, the Bill, when enacted, will not have any immediate or direct effect on live exports. These regulations allow Member States to operate stricter rules than those applied by the EU regulation in relation to the transport of animals by sea. In that context, my Department has retained the rules that it has applied in relation to sea transport of animals since 1996. These are significantly stricter than the EU rules and set a higher standard than that which applies in other EU Member States. This is justified not only on sound animal welfare reasons but also because it reflects the nature of the shipping routes from this island.