Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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185. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to set out the change in rules that recently occurred in connection with the commercial movement of dogs, to ensure that each animal is accompanied by a veterinary health (Balai directive) certificate issued by his Department within 48 hours of the scheduled departure date of the animal; the way this works when animals are being brought into the country for a short period and return to their country of origin within a short period, and may not be here for a 48 hour period; the reasoning behind this and the practical implementation of this by his Department's officials; if this has changed in recent times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16695/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The movement of dogs between Member States is governed by Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 June 2013. This Regulation, which came into operation on 29 December 2014, is implemented in Ireland under the Pet Passport (No.2) Regulations 2014 and requires, inter alia, that a dog being moved for sale or change of ownership must be accompanied by a pet passport showing that it:

- has been identified by a microchip (a transponder readable by a device compatible with ISO standard 11785).

- is immunised against rabies (at least 21 days prior to movement).

- underwent a clinical veterinary examination within 48 hours of departure, to confirm that it showed no signs of diseases and is fit to be transported for the intended journey.

In addition, each consignment of dogs must be accompanied by a veterinary health (‘Balai’) certificate issued by the competent authority (my Department in the case of Ireland) within 48 hours of scheduled departure time and the Member State of destination must be notified via the TRACES at the time of issue of the cert.

Dogs being moved for purposes other than sale or change of ownership (non-commercial movements), are subject to the same pet passport requirements as commercial movements but no health certificate or pre-movement veterinary examination is required. Dogs must be accompanied by their owners during non-commercial movement.

These rules are directly applicable and binding on all EU member states and apply equally to movements of dogs into Ireland regardless of the length of stay here.