Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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1039. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of investigations carried out by the special investigations unit or its successor investigations division within his Department with regard to the supply of veterinary antimicrobial products in each of the years 2011 to date in 2021, by county in tabular form; the number of prosecutions carried out as a result of those investigations by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8852/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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To limit the development and spread of antimicrobial resistance, my Department employs a range of regulatory mechanisms aimed at curbing the excessive or inappropriate use of anti-microbial products in farming. These include residue monitoring and risk-based inspections and investigations.

Controls on the suppliers of anti-microbial products include risk based inspections and investigations. Possible sanctions for non-compliant suppliers and end-users range from forfeiture of the product, financial penalties, to prosecution through the courts and, in the case of professionals suspected of misconduct, possible referral to a professional body.

In some of these cases, the Investigations Division of DAFM carries out investigations with a view to prosecution through the courts. As the Division does not breakdown investigations and prosecutions below the category of veterinary medicines related cases, I cannot provide figures for veterinary antimicrobial products per se. I am, however, providing the Deputy with the number of Veterinary Medicines related investigations carried out in the years in question, by County, and the number of prosecutions which arose from those investigations.

These figures include a significant number of investigations and prosecutions relating to the misuse of veterinary medicines in the horse and greyhound sectors. The Deputy will note that a number of counties in Northern Ireland are included in the list, and while the Investigations Division does not carry out investigations in Northern Ireland, these addresses relate to the address of the individual or the entity under investigation. It is important to note when reviewing these figures that it can take some time for prosecutions to arise, following an investigation.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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1040. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of full-time equivalent staff assigned to the special investigations unit or its successor investigations division within his Department in each of the years 2011 to date in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8853/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Investigations Division within my Department was established in 2014. Prior to the establishment of this Division, investigations and prosecutions were carried out by the Special Investigations Unit (SIU). Although investigations are carried out by many line divisions within my Department, the Investigations Division is the specialist Division with responsibility for the more complex and serious cases.

Investigations Division is a key element of my Department’s enforcement capability, underpinning the quality and traceability standards which facilitate trade and provide reassurance in relation to food safety and authenticity to consumers and customers in Ireland and abroad. All such investigations are carried out with a view to meeting the standard of proof required for prosecution through the courts.

The table below shows the staff numbers in the Investigations Division from 2014 to date. The figures given are the number of staff assigned as of year end.

The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) was a component of an another Division prior to 2014, without a full time Head of Division, so exact staff numbers for the area are difficult to pinpoint for the years 2011, 2012 and 2013. Investigations Division has been a full Division of the Department, with a full time Head of Division allocated to it, since 2014.

The Review of Investigations and Prosecutions within DAFM, completed in 2018, made a number of recommendations for the staffing of the Division which have been implemented over the course of the last two years. The staffing of the Division is reviewed regularly to ensure that it is adequately resourced and has the range of skills required to meet requirements.