Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party)
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82. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason that a livestock vessel (details supplied) did not dock at Alexandria port on 13 October 2022 as was authorised by him, but instead docked the following day at Damietta port; if he was advised of this change in destination during the journey; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53244/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) regulates trade in and transport of live animals. DAFM does this on the principle that no one shall transport animals, or cause animals be transported, in a way likely to cause injury or undue suffering to those animals.

This Government supports the lawful export of live animals as it is an important feature of normal activity in Ireland's agri food sector. The Department facilitates this trade, recognising its critical importance to the Agri-Food sector, while ensuring that live animal exports are in compliance with legislative requirements.

The Deputy asked about a specific livestock vessel, and a voyage of live animals that departed from Ireland and arrived in Egypt during October. The Department approved the plan for this voyage in advance of its departure from Ireland. Exporters are obliged by law to have this approval in place prior to departure.

As the Deputy can appreciate, certain changes to the route of any journey may happen during the course of a journey. In this instance, the Master's report specified that the port of arrival was changed with agreement between the captain of the vessel and the operator receiving the animals in Egypt. Following assessment of this change in destination, it is the view of the Department that this change would not have had an effect on animal welfare. The Department has been in contact with the private operators involved with respect to this journey, and officials are in regular contact with the individuals and companies involved to ensure that the high animal welfare standards demanded by this Government continue to be respected.

Let me reassure the Deputy that this Government and the Department take the protection of animal welfare very seriously, in particular when it comes to the transportation of live animals over long distances.