Clare Daly (Dublin North, United Left)
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178. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline his plans to make changes to welfare inspections and standards as a result of the recent situation in Myshall, County Carlow, and in view of a media report (details supplied) which revealed Ireland was the source of many pups supplied to the United Kingdom market. [16465/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Environment, Community and Local Government and the Local Authorities have responsibility for operating the Dog Breeding Establishments Act. My Department liaises closely with Local Authority personnel in all animal welfare matters. Furthermore, under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, the ISPCA and the DSPCA have appointed a number of authorised officers to carry out animal welfare inspections. These arrangements are kept under the review.

I would like to state in the strongest terms possible that it is totally unacceptable that dogs or indeed any animals are kept in conditions described in the TV programme and I can assure the Deputy that my Department’s veterinary inspectors will continue to work proactively with their colleagues in the Local Authorities and the various animal welfare organisations to address animal welfare relating to dogs. In this context, I should point out that during my period in office, in spite of significant budgetary constraints, I have significantly increased the level of funding provided to animal welfare organisations, reflecting the importance I attach to their work.