Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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315. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which he addresses Ireland’s commitments under European Council Regulation (EC) No. 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33926/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine takes its responsibilities in the matter of animal welfare very seriously and exercises close oversight, and deploys considerable resources to the area of animal welfare in general, including in respect of animals being transported.

Under EU Regulation 1/2005, exporters must submit journey logs and other documentation to the  Department for advance assessment by an Official Veterinarian, which is supported by further official controls on the day of travel, including identity checks for all animals, and confirmation of transporter authorisation by Department officials. The Official Veterinarian carries out a health and welfare check on animals, inspects the vehicle, and monitors loading.

As you will be aware, additional measures are regularly taken to further enhance and safeguard animal welfare during transport, in line with the principles of EU Regulation 1/2005 and further enhanced by national legislation. This includes specific legislation for approval of dedicated livestock carriers and Ro-Ro vessels carrying livestock, setting down standards for the vessel management and the vessel itself. In 2020, additional measures included increased space in lorries for young calves and a requirement on drivers to retrain every three years instead of 10 years.

Finally, the Programme for Government contains an undertaking to provide additional funding to support animal welfare in the coming years to which I am fully committed. In this regard, in December 2020, I announced record funding of €3.2 million to 101 animal welfare organisations throughout the country.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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316. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures that in place to monitor compliance with chapter V, 1, 1.4 (a) of the Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33927/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine takes its responsibilities in the matter of animal welfare very seriously and exercises close oversight, and deploys considerable resources to the area of animal welfare in general, including in respect of animals being transported.

The Department approves and oversees compliance in respect of the transport of animals from Ireland to the EU, taking into account all relevant elements of the Regulations and, in particular, to ensure that animals are not transported in a way that is likely to cause injury or undue suffering to them. This is the key principle which underpins all transport of animals from Ireland. 

Official Veterinarians have on occasions accompanied cattle on their journeys whilst being transported over long distance and this practice will resume once the COVID-19 situation has improved to the point where it is deemed safe to do so. Enforcement of the return of satellite navigation and temperature monitor data was stepped up in 2020 and several retrospective checks of this data were carried out to ensure drivers and transporters respected the statutory journey times and resting times for animals.

Many years of experience of transporting animals on regular and direct links between Ireland and the EU has affirmed our view that the welfare of animals transported under these conditions are not injured nor subject to undue suffering.