Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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242. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine which Ministers were responsible for animal welfare matters prior to the commencement of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, which was commenced on 6 March 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42878/15]

Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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287. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department had any responsibility for animal welfare matters prior to the commencement of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 on 6 March 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42838/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 242 and 287 together.

Following the commencement of the Animal Health & Welfare Act 2013 on 6 March 2014, all animal welfare matters now come within the remit of my Department. Prior to that date, the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine was focussed on animal welfare as it related to farmed animals. Wider animal cruelty issues were dealt with under the Protection of Animals Act 1911 which was within the remit of the Minister for Justice.

The Animal Health and Welfare Act provides a framework within which the welfare of animals can be safeguarded and I am hopeful that the significantly increased levels of penalties for offences of animal cruelty provided for under the Act will act as a deterrent to animal welfare abuses. It is worth noting that the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 has significantly expanded the range of legal requirements around animal welfare. New provisions include the requirement on owners to ensure that animals under their control had adequate supplies of food and water, shelter and veterinary care.