Written answers
Tuesday, 22 September 2020
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Animal Welfare
Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party)
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899. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that livestock vessels (details supplied) which were awarded certificates of approvals in Ireland in early 2020 were already under approval in Romania and that this is a potential breach of Article 19 of EU Regulation 1/2005 which may invalidate the certificates of approval in Ireland; if and when this was rectified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25648/20]
Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is aware of the issue in relation to the certificates of approval of the vessels in question, which was an administrative matter and did not impact on the welfare of animals. The issue was resolved in April 2020.
The Department has now updated the procedure for issuing certificates of approval for the dedicated livestock vessels.
Article 1(3) of Council Regulation 1/2005 states:
“This Regulation shall not be an obstacle to any stricter national measures aimed at improving the welfare of animals during transport taking place entirely within the territory of a Member State or during sea transport departing from the territory of a Member State”
Stricter provisions have indeed been set down in national law and the approval process provided in S.I. 356 of 2016 S.I. No. 356/2016 - Carriage of Livestock by Sea Regulations 2016. This is now a separate approval process to approval under S.I. 675 of 2006 European Communities (Animal Transport and Control Post) Regulations.
If an application complies with the requirements of S.I. 675 of 2006 but does not comply with the requirements of S.I. 356 of 2016, the vessel will not be approved for departure from Ireland.
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