Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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As a result of the war in Ukraine and the large sudden displacement of people, many refugees from Ukraine sought refuge in Ireland and elsewhere in the EU. The war situation meant that many with accompanying pets did not have adequate time to arrange for their pets to become fully compliant with EU rules prior to leaving Ukraine.

Recognising the exceptional circumstances created by this situation and the importance of pets to the health and well being of the displaced families, in March 2022, similar to other Member States, my Department introduced specific emergency measures to support such refugees from Ukraine. At the same time increased controls were applied to ensure that the health and welfare of Irish pets and humans were protected. Such relaxation was legally provided for in Article 32 of Regulation (EU) 576/2013 which provides for a derogation in exceptional situations.

Since the beginning of the Ukraine war, my Department has spent €815,568.64 on a series of measures controlling the risk associated with pets coming with their owners as refugees from Ukraine and in supporting Ukrainian refugees to get their pets compliant with the animal health requirements. Latest figures show that since March 2022, some 2,098 pets from Ukraine were subject to control in Ireland, the vast majority of these taking place in 2022. Since the beginning of 2023, only 215 pets have entered Ireland from the Ukraine.

The costs incurred relate to the provision of kennelling, veterinary tests and treatments, identification of animals, secure transport of animals and translation costs. The single biggest cost was the acquisition of additional kennelling facilities. This was necessary as the numbers of animals being encountered was far in excess of the capacity of the facility already available to the Department to deal with isolation/quarantine of imported animals. The additional capacity was acquired through a competitive public tendering process and that specific contract is no longer in place.

My Department also published a request for tender to engage service providers for the transportation of pets arriving from Ukraine into Ireland from points of entry to isolation facilities and costs associated with returning pets to pet owners. However no response was received from any service provider. In the absence of receiving any tender response, the Department obtained ex ante approval to engage with other service providers identified as potentially suitable to negotiate for the services required.

The Department’s veterinary services at points of entry took steps to control the entry of these animals, check for compliance and in the context of supporting the families, sought to bring these animals into compliance with the legislative travel requirements, to protect public health and our domestic animal population. The necessary measures included microchipping of animals at the point of entry, providing tapeworm treatment and rabies vaccination for pets, placing pets into official isolation or a period of home isolation, depending on the existing level of compliance/non-compliance with the regulatory requirements. The Department also put a system in place where follow-up blood samples would be collected by Private Veterinary Practitioners (PVPs).

The terms of the derogation were made more restrictive over time with a decision, from 5 September 2022, that the default position would be that any dog being presented without a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination anda valid rabies antibody titration blood test at least 30 days later, was placed in official isolation for an appropriate period. From 21 November 2022, any pet that entered Ireland that was not fully compliant was required to be cared for in an official quarantine facility for a period of time and this had to be paid for by the owner.

Finally, from 1 July 2023, all special emergency arrangements that were in place for pets entering Ireland from the Ukraine ceased. Since then any pets coming from Ukraine must meet the strict criteria applying to pets from all third countries. If a pet arrives from Ukraine into Ireland, the pet must be accompanied by original paperwork and will be inspected at the points of arrival by DAFM staff. If the pet fails these compliance checks, it may be refused entry into Ireland, or may be placed into quarantine under official control for the necessary tests or vaccinations, for up to six months. The owner is presented with these choices and all costs will be borne by the pet owner (official isolation, transportation, pet passport, vaccinations etc.).