Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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266. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the rationale for his Department effectively disbanding the special investigations unit which was a very effective unit in ensuring that standard legal requirements in terms of animal welfare were being met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43116/14]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Department attaches very considerable importance to its investigative capability in the context of its regulatory and control functions to ensure that the significant investment being made in the sector in meeting its expansion plans under Food Harvest 2020 is not put at risk by failures to meet legal obligations which might undermine Ireland’s excellent reputation for food safety and animal health, to protect animal welfare and to protect the disbursement of public funds. As the remit of the Department requires a broad ranging and multifaceted investigative capacity, I decided earlier this year to establish a new Investigations Division, which brings all of the Department’s investigation capability, which heretofore existed in a number of areas, into one Division. I would point out that this new Division incorporates and includes the functions previously undertaken by the Special Investigations Unit. It is headed by a Senior Superintending Veterinary Officer, supported by a team of investigators, some of whom are core members of the team and others to be drawn from areas where their expertise will be beneficial to the conduct of particular types of investigations. The new Investigations Division reports to an Investigations Steering Group chaired by an Assistant Secretary General.

I can assure you that animal welfare remains within the remit of the Investigation Division which will continue to support local inspectorate staff in the implementation of official controls relating to animal welfare.