Written answers

Monday, 9 September 2024

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Veterinary Services

Photo of Paul MurphyPaul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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1234.To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he agrees that no healthy animal should be put down and it should be illegal for vets to do so.[34270/24]

Photo of Charlie McConalogueCharlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 provides a modern framework for applying standards in the area of animal health and welfare and replaced a number of enactments dating back over a century.

The matter of humane destruction is provided for in the Act. Section 23(1) provides for humane disposal of an animal and provides that a person shall not kill a protected animal or cause or permit another person to kill a protected animal, unless that person is competent to kill it in accordance with animal health and welfare regulations and does so in such manner as to inflict as little suffering as possible in the circumstances.

The Act was passed, after a lengthy and constructive debate in both Houses of the Oireachtas and came into operation on 6 March 2014 and I have no current plans to change it.

My Department operates a confidential animal welfare helpline through which members of the public can report incidents of animal cruelty or neglect for investigation.

The details of these are: Helpline Phone No: 01 607 2379. Email address - animalwelfare@agriculture.gov.ie

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