Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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571. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to require pest control companies to institute guidelines for the handling of feral cats in view of the Animal Health and Welfare Act. [2791/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Under the new Animal Health and Welfare Act causing cruelty or causing unnecessary suffering to any animal, including feral cats, is prohibited. Pest control companies will be required to operate within the legislative framework of the Act. On a related note, owners who abandon their animals, including cats, will be guilty of an offence under the new Act. I would urge any company engaged in the lawful control of feral cats to consider the use of trap-neuter-return in the first instance unless there are compelling welfare or disease reasons for a solution that involves humane killing.