Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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651. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of cases that have been prosecuted on indictment for animal cruelty; the number of sentences of imprisonment that have been imposed for the mistreatment of animals in the past five years; the average fine imposed upon conviction in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18920/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The main statutes governing cruelty to animals until recently was the Protection of Animals Act, 1911 and Protection of Animals (amendment) Act, 1965 and responsibility for pursuing complaints under that legislation rested with An Garda Síochána. The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, which I commenced recently, has replaced the aforementioned legislation and authorised officers of my Department and local authorities, together with An Garda Síochána, will beauthorised to take prosecutions under the new Act.

Information in relation to animal cruelty cases dealt in any particular year under the now repealed Protection of Animals Act, 1911 and Protection of Animals (amendment) Act, 1965, including prosecutions brought on indictment or by summary process, is not compiled centrally in my Department.