Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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43. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures his Department is taking to tackle the increasing incidences of cattle-rustling being reported across the country. [11513/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The number of cattle reported stolen to my Department over the last three years are 120 in 2022, 39 in 2021 and 98 in 2020.

The theft of cattle is a criminal offence and all such incidents should be reported to An Garda Síochána by the relevant herd keeper for investigation. Where deemed appropriate and on request by An Garda Síochána my Department will assist the Gardaí in these investigations. Cattle that are reported stolen are assigned a category on this Department’s Animal Identification and Movement System (AIM) database which means that they cannot be legally traded. All cattle being traded must be properly tagged and registered on AIM, be accompanied by its bovine passport and recorded on the database in the presenting herd selling the animals.