Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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35. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of animal welfare prosecutions that have arisen on foot of his Department's efforts in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21323/16]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 is a major piece of legislation replacing a wide range of Acts relating to animal health and welfare dating back over a century. The Act provides for major legislative changes relating to animal welfare, putting it on a more pro-active footing and, in particular, placing specific requirement on animal keepers to care for animals rather than merely avoid cruelty. In addition, the Act enables authorised officers for the first time to intervene before welfare situations become serious instead of waiting for problems to occur as heretofore. This policy change is reinforced by a system of Animal Welfare Notices. This means authorised officers are now in a position to provide positive instruction for the care of animals and they only resort to prosecution in serious situations. Thus the Act assists in the education of keepers of animals and in making them aware of potential hazards as well as providing for the punishment of those few persons who contravene the Act. This policy is designed to allow early intervention and to prevent small problems escalating into serious issues.

Since the commencement of the Animal Health and Welfare Act in March 2014, my Department has initiated over fifty prosecutions for breaches of legislation relating to animal welfare, including those taken by my Department, based on field inspections by Department Officers, authorised officers of the ISPCA and DSPCA and An Garda Síochána. Several prosecutions have been successfully completed and the remainder are at various stages in the court system.

The offences prosecuted include –

- Causing unnecessary pain and suffering to animals;

- Not taking necessary steps to protect the welfare of animals;

- Being reckless or neglectful regarding the welfare of animals;

- Failure to secure appropriate veterinary treatment;

- Failure to comply with notices issued by authorised officers to take specified measures in the interests of an animals’ welfare, and

- Unlawful tail-docking of pups.

My Department has initiated a programme of training for authorised officers involved in implementing the animal welfare code. As the Deputy is aware, in addition to Department personnel, authorised officers include members of An Garda Síochána as well as officers of the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

I think it appropriate to place on the record my thanks to An Garda Síochána, Customs and Excise and officers of the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for their continued co-operation with officers of my Department in implementing animal health and welfare legislation.