Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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870. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide details of contracts awarded in 2022 by his Department or bodies under his aegis outside the standard procurement process in order to assist the arrival of refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23188/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Recognising the exceptional circumstance created by the invasion of Ukraine, temporary humanitarian arrangements have been put in place, to allow people travelling from Ukraine to Ireland to be accompanied by their pets, even if the pets are not in compliance with EU Travel Regulations.

In accordance with Article 32 of Regulation (EU) 576/2013 and, by way of derogation from the conditions provided for non-commercial movements of pet animals, Member States may, in exceptional situations, authorise the non-commercial movement into their territory of pet animals which do not comply with the conditions in Regulation (EU) 576/2013.

Refugees from Ukraine are allowed to enter Ireland with their pets under specific conditions. Where pets are not fully compliant with EU regulations, the Department’s veterinary services are taking steps to bring these animals into compliance with the legislative travel requirements, to protect our domestic population and protect public health. These measures include microchipping animals, providing tapeworm treatment and rabies vaccination for pets, as required.

The Department received ex ante approval to proceed with procurement of emergency arrangements/facilities to manage and mitigate the animal and public health risk associated with the risk from pets accompanying Ukrainian refugees. This emergency procurement was justified to fully and appropriately mitigate any risks that would have been associated with the potential entry of rabies into Ireland. Such a scenario would have encapsulated risks to human and animal health, including the possible impacts of any case of rabies on our agriculture trade. These arrangements include the sourcing of kennels, transport providers, rabies vaccinations and the services of Private Veterinary Practitioners.

As of May 5th 2022, 647 pet owners with 828 pets have entered from Ukraine.

My Department has gone out to tender for further kennels and transporters.

As regards the twelve State Bodies under the aegis of my Department, the information requested is an operational matter for the State Bodies themselves. I have referred the Deputy’s question to the Agencies and have requested that a response should issue within 10 days.