Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

226. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an up-to-date register exists in Ireland of registered germinal product establishments including canine semen and has been established as per EU regulations; and if so, the location in which the public can access the register. [62273/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Under Regulation (EU) 429/2016, my Department provides an up to date register of all approved germinal product establishments for the bovine, equine, porcine, ovine and caprine species this can be found at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/e9382-list-of-approved-establishments-in-veterinary-fields-and-approved-laboratories-in-accordance-with-council-directive-200873ec/

Whilst my Department provides the recording of health certification for the export of Canine semen, approval for Canine germinal product establishments is not required by Regulation 2020/686.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

227. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there is a registered list of veterinarians for the purposes of carrying out the necessary requirements under Article 39 of the EU Regulations 2020/686; and if the list of veterinarians is available to the public. [62274/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy is probably aware, Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/686 relates to germinal products, specifically the approval of germinal product establishments and the traceability and animal health requirements for movements within the Union of germinal products of certain kept terrestrial animals.

Article 39 of that regulation relates to rules concerning animal health certification for those products as they relate to dogs and cats, terrestrial animals other than bovine, porcine, ovine, caprine or equine animals kept at confined establishments and animals of the family Camelidae or Cervidae.

Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine official veterinarians who are also registered with the Veterinary Council of Ireland, may sign an animal health certificate for movements between Member States of consignments of germinal products in respect of these groupings.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

228. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way the requirements under Article 36 of the EU Regulations 2020/686 are monitored; and the protections and training requirements that exist to ensure that the artificial insemination and or extraction of semen of canines other than greyhounds is carried out by a qualified person. [62275/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Under Regulation (EU) 429/2016, my Department provides an up to date register of all approved germinal product establishments for the bovine, equine, porcine, ovine and caprine species this can be found at the following link on the public website: www.gov.ie/en/collection/e9382-list-of-approved-establishments-in-veterinary-fields-and-approved-laboratories-in-accordance-with-council-directive-200873ec/

Whilst my Department provides for the export health certification of canine semen and the recording of health certification for the export of Canine semen, Regulation 2020/686 does not require approval for Canine germinal product establishments.

Official export health certification, where required, is provided by Department veterinary inspectors. Department staff carry out regular checks as part of official regulatory controls related to official certification.

Training requirements for registered veterinarians is a matter for the Veterinary Council of Ireland.

Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

229. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it is a legal requirement for canine fertility clinics to have an on-site veterinarian; if his Department maintains a list of canine fertility clinics; and the inspection mechanism in place for ensuring high animal welfare standards. [62276/21]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Under the Veterinary Practice Act 2005, the practice of veterinary medicine meaning includes diagnosing disease, injury, pain, deformity, defect or state of health of an anima, identifying and carrying out treatment, whether surgical or medical in nature, of any such matters and performing a surgical procedure on an animal.

It is an offence (with a few limited exceptions) for anyone other than a registered veterinary practitioner to undertake such activities. Furthermore, the practice of veterinary medicine must only be undertaken from a premises for which a certificate of suitability has been issued by the Veterinary Council of Ireland

The Veterinary Council of Ireland is the statutory body that regulates the practice of veterinary medicine in the State - it maintains a register of veterinary practitioners, veterinary nurses and veterinary premises for which a certificate of suitability has been issued.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine does not maintain a list of canine fertility clinics. Regulation (EU) 2020/686 does not require approval for canine germinal product establishments. Where the practice of veterinary medicine takes place in any such clinics, this must be carried out by registered veterinary practitioners.