Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
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223. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to issues raised in correspondence (details supplied) the steps he is taking to ensure that the Carriage of Livestock by Sea Regulations 2016 are stringently enforced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28183/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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In the vast majority of instances the carriage of livestock from Ireland to various destinations to date in 2018 have taken place without incident and in full compliance with the relevant requirements of the EU and national legislation.

In the case of a small number of non-compliances detected to date in 2018 in relation to transport of livestock involving truck and roll-on, roll-off ferry transport, following investigations by the Irish and/or French authorities, penalties were applied accordingly under S.I. 675 of 2006. 

My Department is currently drawing up plans for the 2019 peak export period to further enhance compliance levels.

Separately, the  position in respect of exports of live cattle by dedicated livestock ships is that my Department updated the existing Diseases of Animals (Carriage of Cattle by Sea) Orders, 1996 and 1998 requirements with current legislation enacted by S.I. 356 of 2016 (Carriage of Livestock by Sea Regulations 2016).  These regulations continue to play a critical role in safeguarding the welfare of animals transported by sea, and are unique by European Union standards.

Both I and my Department will continue 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.