Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Renua Ireland)
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319. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will make changes to the legislation regarding animal cruelty (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46541/15]

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 and Welfare Act 2013, which I introduced, contain rules relating to the welfare of animals and outlawing cruelty. These rules provide 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. These penalties are in keeping with Irish jurisprudence and therefore I do not envisage further changes.