Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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277. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of animals exported by type of animal and country of export in each of the years 2014 to 2016 and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17247/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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The figures available to my Department for live exports of animals by type, country of export and year are set out in the table attached.  I would draw the Deputy’s attention to the fact that the figures for dogs, cats, horses and other animals are taken from the EU TRACES database, which began recording animal movements within the EEA in 2015.  Dogs and cats that are taken out of the country as pets are not recorded on TRACES.

Live exports are a vital component of Ireland’s livestock industry and play an important role in ensuring  competition in the market place. Both I and my Department are making every effort to promote and maintain an environment in which live exports can take place in both an economic and sustainable manner, with due regard for the welfare of all animals exported.

Exports to EEA

* A Tripartite Agreement (TPA) between Ireland, United Kingdom and France allows certain categories of horses, that are in compliance with documented higher health standards laid down by Bodies approved by the Member States of the TPA, (Approved TPA Bodies), to be exempted from the requirement for pre-export inspection and official certification when travelling between the three countries. For this reason, the actual exports of horses from Ireland to the UK and France are much greater than reported on the TRACES system.

2015

2016

2017

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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278. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of prosecutions taken against exporters of live animals in each of the years 2013 to 2016 and to date in 2017 for contraventions of regulations governing the transport of live animals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17248/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Council Regulation (EC) No. 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations lays down the requirements and conditions for the transport of live animals, including bovines, undertaken in connection with an economic activity, and the related operations of handling, loading and unloading.  The Regulation is given effect in national legislation by the European Communities (Animal Transport and Control Post) Regulations 2006. (Statutory Instrument No 675 of 2006). My Department deploys a considerable amount of resources to the process of certifying animals for export and enforcing legislation on the welfare of animals going for export. Sanctions for contraventions include suspension of transporter authorisations and vehicle approvals, modifications of approvals as well as the issuing of Fixed Payment Notices and prosecutions.

The main measures taken by my Department to ensure compliance by operators with the legislation are as follows:

- Trucks are approved and transporters are authorised in accordance with the legislation

- Drivers must undergo training carried out to standards set by my Department and hold valid certificates of competence. 

- Journey Logs must be submitted for approval by my Department in advance of any proposed long journey.

The following lists the number of suspensions issued to transporter vehicles as a result of infringements under the legislation.

The following Fixed Payment Notices (FPN) were issued regarding exports of live animals in the different years.

There is also national legislation in place for the carriage of livestock by sea from the state (The Carriage of Livestock by Sea Regulations 2016). These Regulations provide for the inspection and approval of livestock vessels which comply with specified criteria, the loading and care of livestock on vessels, conditions in relation to weather and the submission of voyage reports.