Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
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1159. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if he has read a report (details supplied); his views on this report, and his views on whether elephants should be phased out of zoos. [45236/25]

Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South-West, Fianna Fail)
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The National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS) on behalf of my Department is responsible for the regulation, inspection and licensing of zoos in Ireland. The European Communities (Licensing and Inspection of Zoos) Regulations 2003 provide the legislative basis for the inspection and licensing of zoos in Ireland. These Regulations give effect to EU Directive 1999/22/EC (the Zoo Directive).

The Regulations are supported by the Irish Standards of Modern Zoo Practice (ISMZP), developed to assist zoos and aquaria comply with existing legislation and the meet the highest possible standards of welfare for the animals in their care. The NPWS inspects all Irish zoos to these standards. The ISMZP is now recognised as a model zoo standard and exceeds both the standards required for the captive welfare of wild animals as found in most EU Countries.

The NPWS is not responsible for the operational activities of zoos and they do not fall under the remit of my Department.