Robert O'Donoghue (Dublin Fingal West, Labour)
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670. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the urgent steps he is taking to ensure that only fully weaned weanlings are entered in marts (details suppled); if his Department has conducted an investigation into the level of sickness and mortality among exported weanlings; if so, if he will publish the findings; the measures that will be put in place immediately to prevent the export of animals at risk due to improper weaning and stress-related illness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57360/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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Strong animal health and welfare standards is a key priority for my Department and in that regard, I have allocated significant supports and investments for this area. These include a Targeted Advisory Service on Animal Health (TASAH) focused on biosecurity to support farmers on a range of animal health matters including parasite control. Also, in August 2025 I launched a national funded Beef Welfare Scheme with a budget of €28m which will include supports for a vaccination programme for suckler calves.

My Department has a number of legislative requirements in place to protect all animals moving through livestock marts. All marts operating in Ireland are licensed under the Animal Health and Welfare (Livestock Marts) Regulation 2018 and must comply with the general terms and conditions of their licence as well as their legislative requirements under the regulations.

The regulations prohibit the sale at marts of infirm livestock or livestock affected with disease. Operators of marts are required to provide separate covered pens with appropriate facilities for feeding and resting animals that have been deemed unfit for sale and to facilitate their veterinary examination and treatment. Livestock marts are subject to regular inspection by my Department to ensure these rules are being complied with and that they are maintaining high standards of animal welfare.

The intra community trade and export of live cattle to third countries is a private commercial activity that is heavily regulated by my Department in accordance with EU and National law. My Department exercises close oversight and deploys considerable resources in the matter of regulating this trade and of protecting animal welfare to ensure that it is conducted to the highest possible standard. Independent reports indicate that calves travelling from Ireland arrive in Europe with good health and welfare outcomes. My Department takes all possible measures, some of which go beyond current EU Regulations, to ensure animals are transported in a manner which protects their welfare.

Robert O'Donoghue (Dublin Fingal West, Labour)
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671. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the minimum export weight for calves remains 40 kg; if there has been any change in policy; if not, the reason calves were under the minimum weight permitted to be exported; if the calves actually loaded on the date stated (details supplied); if not, the reason an incorrect journey log approved by a Departmental vet; the reason a revised journey log was not required when the port or date of departure changed; the immediate action his Department will take to ensure full compliance with export regulations and prevent further breaches that compromise animal welfare and Ireland’s export reputation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57361/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The trade in and export of animals is a private commercial activity which is regulated by my Department in accordance with EU and National Regulations. The relevant EU and National Regulations for this sector include Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 Protection of animals during transport and related matters and associated Irish Regulation S.I. No. 267/2006 - European Communities (Protection of Animals During Transport) Regulations 2006.

My Department is satisfied that official controls performed for the transport of livestock referred to by the Deputy were in accordance with the above regulations. My Department continually reviews its processes and procedures to ensure the optimum level of welfare for animals traded with other Members States or exported to third countries.