Holly Cairns (Cork South-West, Social Democrats)
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1693. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether he would consider restricting the microchipping of puppies to registered vets in order to restrict the practice of breeders microchipping puppies for other puppy farm operators; if his attention has been brought to reports of breeders failing to include breeder’s details and mother’s microchip numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19161/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The microchipping of dogs by non-vets is legally provided for in the Microchipping of Dogs Regulations 2015 which states that the implanting can be done by a veterinary practitioner, a veterinary nurse or a properly trained person whose name and contact information are published on the website of a dog identification database.

Allowing properly trained persons to implant microchips in addition to vets and veterinary nurses:

• increases accessibility to microchipping, especially in areas where private veterinary practitioners are scarce
• provides more options for breeders in relation to implanting of chips, reduces the cost and removing this potential barrier to compliance;
• provides efficiency and scale for facilities like animal charities or shelters where registration needs to happen for large volumes quickly and accurately
• Provides as many options as possible to increase compliance with the requirement to microchip.

The 2015 regulations do include provisions aimed at preventing indiscriminate breeding including that an owner or part owner or someone with a beneficial in a dog cannot microchip or register their own dog. Furthermore, microchipping or registration cannot be carried out by any "connected person" to the owner or a person with beneficial interest. A connected person is defined as a spouse, partner, brother, sister, parent, child or the spouse of a child.

My Department responsible for dog microchipping has not received reports of incomplete registration as referenced.

Holly Cairns (Cork South-West, Social Democrats)
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1694. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether he would consider introducing legislation to prohibit the commercial breeding of cats, in light of the increased emergence of kitten farms and breeding of pedigree cat breeds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19163/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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Concern for the safety and welfare of pet animals was one of the primary reasons behind the introduction by my Department of the Animal Health and Welfare (Sale or Supply of Pet Animals) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 681/2019).

These Regulations put into law certain requirements for sellers and suppliers of pet animals, including the minimum age for the sale of certain mammals; record-keeping; registration with my Department; and the provision of specific information about the pet in advertisements. The Regulations were welcomed by welfare organisations and are a support to those thinking of purchasing pet animals. All entities on the register must have their premises inspected annually.

Under these regulations, anyone who sells or supplies six or more pet animals in a year must register with my Department.

My Department is in the process of ensuring that all online ads for the sale of cats are compliant under S.I. 681/2019.

My Department currently has no plans to introduce further legislation in this area.