Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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210. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of cattle and sheep slaughtered annually in Ireland under Halal certification without pre-stunning; the names of the companies licensed to carry out this practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68190/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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My Department records the number of cattle and sheep slaughtered without pre-stunning on a quarterly basis. Table 1 contains the total number of cattle and sheep slaughtered without pre-stunning from 2020 to end of Q3 2025.

My Department does not certify or licence meat slaughtered in approved establishments as halal. Food businesses may only apply a halal label to meat which has been certified as halal by a halal certifying body.

In regard to non-stun slaughter in meat establishments approved by my Department, Article 4(4) of Regulation (EC) No. 1099/2009 on the Protection of Animals at the Time of Killing provides for a derogation, in the case of slaughter prescribed by religious rites, from the usual requirement for animals to be stunned before slaughter. Statutory Instrument No. 292 of 2013 gives effect to the Regulation. In order to avail of this derogation, Food Business Operators are required to obtain approval and demonstrate compliance with Regulation (EC) No. 1099/2009.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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211. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the animal welfare standards which are applied to non-stun slaughter in Ireland; if these standards meet EU animal welfare regulations; and if he will consider prohibiting non-stun slaughter on animal welfare grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68191/25]

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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215. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the economic value of the Halal market to Irish meat exports; and if he will consider whether this market justifies the continuation of non-stun slaughter practices given animal welfare concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68195/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 211 and 215 together.

There is EU and Irish legislation in place for the protection of animals at the time of slaughter. The legislation requires animals to be stunned before they are slaughtered. However, slaughter of animals without prior stunning, as prescribed by religious rites, is also permitted under the EU legislation, under derogation.

My Department is responsible for implementation of the above legislation and animal welfare legislation generally. Policy on all animal welfare issues is subject to periodic review particularly in light of new information on the topic or developments at EU level and on foot of such a review policy changes may be implemented if deemed appropriate.

This type of slaughter is carried out in Ireland in a very limited number of slaughter plants and those plants must meet specific requirements in order to be approved to carry out slaughter without stunning; plant owners must apply to my Department and submit a Standard Operating Procedure for this type of slaughter, specific to their plant, for pre-approval, they must also meet requirements in relation to plant infrastructure and training and competence of staff carrying out the slaughter.

My Department is not involved in the Halal certification of meat and meat products arising from slaughter without prior stunning as this is an arrangement between food businesses and Halal Certifying Bodies and my Department does not have specific economic information in relation to halal markets.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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212. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm whether Irish farmers are informed or consulted before their animals are slaughtered without stunning for Halal markets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68192/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The choice of slaughter plants is a commercial decision for farmers. As such, my Department has no role or knowledge whether farmers are informed or consulted before their animals are slaughtered without stunning. There is no regulatory requirement for this to occur.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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213. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review the licensing and oversight of slaughterhouses engaged in non-stun slaughter; and if he will consider introducing mandatory stunning for all animals slaughtered in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68193/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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My Department maintains permanent presence in slaughterhouses engaged in non-stun slaughter. This is important for verifying their compliance with relevant EU and Irish regulations.

Policy on all animal welfare issues is subject to periodic review particularly in light of new information on the topic or developments at EU level and on foot of such a review, policy changes may be implemented if deemed appropriate.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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214. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide details of audits or inspections carried out on slaughterhouses performing non-stun slaughter; the findings of these audits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68194/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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My Department supervises slaughterhouses approved to carry out non-stun slaughter and monitor compliance using a variety of tools including inspections, audits, interviews with business operators and their staff and checks of operator instructions, including records.

Official Controls, while not specifically enumerated in such slaughter establishments, are generated by my Department for each establishment each week. In addition, my Department monitors the effectiveness of official controls.