Questions

702. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions being taken to improve public awareness of the way to identify licensed breeders; the way in which to report suspected illegal breeding activity; and whether his Department plans a national information campaign. [65389/25]

703. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of inspections carried out on dog breeding establishments in each of the past five years; the number of enforcement actions taken; and his assessment of whether current penalties are sufficient to deter non-compliance. [65390/25]

704. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has engaged with the Department of Housing; Local Government and Heritage, and local authorities to improve consistency in dog control enforcement; and if he will report on planned legislative updates in this area. [65391/25]

705. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide details on supports available to rescue organisations caring for dogs seized from illegal breeding operations, including veterinary and behavioural rehabilitation costs. [65392/25]

706. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will publish an updated national animal welfare strategy, including specific commitments on dog breeding, enforcement, inspection standards and public education. [65393/25]

707. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide an update on TB testing for animals (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65426/25]

708. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason there is an undue delay dealing with reactor animals (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65432/25]

709. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there is a delay in the payment of compensation to farmers who have reactors; if so, for the length of time; when payment will be made, if this has been communicated to farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65460/25]

710. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers who have submitted applications for TB reactor compensation; the number that are still under consideration; those refused; those accepted, the time frame of those waiting for payment 0- 3 weeks, 3-6 weeks, 6-9 weeks, 9-12 weeks, 12 + weeks, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter.…

711. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the scientific basis for statements in the CAP Strategic Plan 2023–2027 (details supplied); and if these claims were based on his Department’s funded research or internal analyses by organisations given low scrapie prevalence and limited demonstrated performance differences. [65506/25]

712. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his Department's process for updating SIS policy where scientific evidence, including evidence derived from datasets (details supplied) or his Department's funded research, has been contradicted or superseded; and the way in which independence is ensured. [65507/25]

713. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether the minimum requirements or participation conditions set an organisation (details supplied) for genomic services or involvement in its breeding-related activities comply with breeders' rights under Articles 13 and 14 of Regulation (EU) 2016/1012, including the breeder's right to participate in and contribute to the breeding progr…

714. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether the secondary use or linkage of farmers' genomic, performance and flockbook/pedigree data (details supplied) has been assessed for compliance with EU agricultural data-governance guidance, including the EU Code of Conduct on Agricultural Data Sharing and DG AGRI principles on purpose limitation and originator control; and whether…

715. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has assessed whether linking eligibility for SIS or other supports to the use of a single operator (details supplied) restricts competition or limits breeder rights under Articles 13 and 14. [65510/25]

716. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason no records exist regarding the inclusion of the genotyped ram task in the sheep improvement scheme, despite its central role in the CAP Strategic Plan; and whether this indicates a failure in documentation or oversight. [65511/25]

717. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the recourse available to breeders who have been excluded from services (details supplied); and the way in which such exclusions are monitored to ensure compliance with Articles 13, 14, and 41 of Regulation (EU) 2016/1012. [65512/25]

718. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide any formal documentation or statutory basis for the designation of an organisation (details supplied) as a national breeding programme operator; and to clarify the scope and legal authority of this designation. [65513/25]

719. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide, in respect of each Department official who currently serves or has served as secretary, director or governance officer of organisations (details supplied) under Regulation (EU) 2016/1012; their Department grade, job title, division or section, remit relating to breeding programme approvals, official controls and policy; the d…

720. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which his Department complies with Article 41(b) of Regulation (EU) 2016/1012, which requires that officials performing official controls remain free from conflicts of interest, where Department staff hold governance roles in organisations (details supplied). [65523/25]

721. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which his Department fulfils Article 41 as the competent authority, including impartiality procedures, conflict-of-interest safeguards, staffing, documentation, legal authority, access to operator data, and audit systems. [65524/25]

722. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department carries out independent conflict-of-interest risk assessments, separate from SLA declarations, as required by Article 8(4)(b), before approving organisations (details supplied) as third-party operators; and to provide copies of such assessments since 2021. [65525/25]

723. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason his Department relies solely on SLA declarations of no conflict between a breed society and a third party, when Article 8(4)(b) requires the competent authority to assess potential conflicts between the third party (details supplied) and the economic activities of breeders themselves. [65526/25]

724. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the monitoring, audit or review procedures have been conducted since 2021 to ensure organisations (details supplied) remain compliant with Article 8(4)(b). [65527/25]

725. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which his Department ensures that linking eligibility or participation in CAP schemes such as SCEP or SIS to the use of systems (details supplied) does not create conflicts of interest or market distortions; and to provide any assessments conducted under Article 8(4)(b) to evaluate the impact on breeders' economic activities. …

726. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether removal of genetic indexes by organisations (details supplied) falls under Article 41 official controls; and the recourse breeders have where such removals affect rights under Articles 13 and 14. [65529/25]