Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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1670.To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he can confirm that there is no animal welfare investigation by his Department or the Attorney General into a company (details supplied); if so, the reason there is no investigation; and the reason horses from the abattoir were not seized and removed to a place of safety, but are in the control of the abattoir owner, who has a history of animal cruelty charges. [32251/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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I firstly wish to reiterate my strong condemnation of any cruelty or mistreatment of animals and to reinforce that my Department takes matters of equine welfare and the integrity of the food chain very seriously.

I can assure the Deputy that the equine welfare matters referred to will form part of the ongoing and active animal welfare investigation by my Department, in conjunction with the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation. While it is vitally important to ensure that process continues without prejudice, I wish to state again categorically that the full rigour of the law will be applied as appropriate.

While I am limited in what I can say due to that investigation being ongoing, I can confirm that the registered equine holding premises, (where footage of distressing animal welfare related incidents featured on the RTE Investigates programme), has been subject to a legal notice since late May prohibiting the presence or entry of any horses. I can also confirm that my Department is aware that equines that had been on that holding have since been re-located. They are in a separate equine holding premises in the mid-west of the country that is registered in the same operator’s name, and that equine holding premises is also the subject of legal notices from the Department.

My Department's understanding is that this operator had a conviction under the 1911 Protection of Animals Act in 2012. The Courts imposed a fine and did not issue any orders in relation to the holding of animals.

The legal basis and grounds under which animals may be seized for welfare related reasons are set out under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. It is important to understand that in monitoring and verifying compliance with legal notices served on the operator concerned; the Department must act within the relevant provisions of the Act, which also sets out the basis for any further escalated actions where necessary. As I have previously stated this is an ongoing investigation, and I trust you will appreciate and understand that I cannot disclose any operationally sensitive details that relate to this matter.