John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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236. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to recent graphic footage which has appeared online and in a newspaper (details supplied) apparently showing the torture of a fox at the hands of hunters' dogs in County Waterford; his plans to follow the United Kingdom decision to outlaw the hunting of foxes with dogs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36579/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Incidents of animal cruelty are unacceptable and my Department devotes considerable resources to protecting animal welfare and dealing with breaches of animal welfare legislation. Sections 11 and 12 of the Animal Health & Welfare Act, which I introduced last year, contain basic rules relating to the welfare of animals, namely, that a person having an animal in his or her possession or control must safeguard and not threaten the health and welfare of the animal. In addition, a person cannot cause unnecessary suffering or endanger the health and welfare of any animal or neglect or be reckless regarding the health or welfare of any animal. The Act also provides for increased levels of penalties. For major cases taken on indictment, the maximum penalty has been raised from €100,000 to €250,000 with a maximum custodial sentence of five years imprisonment. My Department has brought the matter to which the Deputy refers to the attention of An Garda Síochána in Waterford.