Robert O'Donoghue (Dublin Fingal West, Labour)
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863. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which compliance with existing EU and national feeding and welfare requirements for unweaned animals in transport is monitored and enforced; the number of inspections carried out and enforcement actions taken in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63372/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The trade in and the export of animals is a private commercial activity, but it is heavily regulated by European and National law which my Department enforces. My Department takes its responsibilities in the matter of animal welfare very seriously and exercises close oversight and deploys considerable resources to the area of animal welfare in general, including in respect of animals being transported.

Trade in animals to other Member States and export of animals to third countries from Ireland must be conducted in compliance with legislative requirements. My Department ensures that animals are fit for transport and comply with the terms of their health certification, as well as ensuring that journeys are only allowed in conditions whereby animals can be transported in compliance with the EU's animal welfare legislation and with Ireland’s national legislation.

The relevant health certification requires a veterinarian employed by my Department to state that the animal has not shown clinical signs or symptoms of diseases listed for bovine animals during the clinical examination which was carried out within the last 24 hours prior to the time of departure of the consignment. From 18 November 2024 until 2 November 2025 224,584 calves were transported from Ireland to other Member States or to third countries. My Department has commenced 3 enforcement actions since 17 November 2024 relating to alleged non-compliances involving the transport of calves.

Robert O'Donoghue (Dublin Fingal West, Labour)
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864. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether Ireland plans to support or advocate for stronger protections for unweaned animals during transport in upcoming EU negotiations on the revision of animal welfare and transport regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63373/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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In the context of the Farm to Fork Strategy, the EU Commission announced on 7 December 2023 its intention to revise the current EU Regulation on animal welfare during transport Council Regulation (EC) 1/2005. My Department is strongly committed to improving animal welfare standards during transport including for un-weaned animals and supports the revision of the EU Regulation for this sector.

The new Regulation should be based on strong technical and scientific knowledge, as well as drawing on the experiences and good practices of Member States in implementing and enforcing the current Regulation.

Ireland's position is that the primary objective of the revision of the Regulation should be the continued facilitation of high welfare intra-community trade and export of live animals, but that the new Regulation should not be focused on measures aimed at prohibiting or limiting certain types of transport per se.

My Department has continuously reinforced its practical, administrative and legislative measures to protect the welfare of animals during transport, often going beyond the minimum requirements of the current Regulation, for example in providing extra space in vehicles for un-weaned calves, more frequent driver training, and controls on temperature stress.

The proposed new Regulation is currently being examined at Council Working Party level under the Danish Presidency. My Department attends these Working Party meetings.