Questions

2200. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the level of stocks of fertilisers are available in Ireland in the event of disruption to international supply chains; the supports in place to ensure adequate suppliers of fertiliser to Irish agriculture; if supplies are being actively monitored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24404/26]

2201. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has assessed or considered the creation of a national strategic fertiliser reserve that would ensure adequate supplies are available to farmers in Ireland in the event of global supply chain disruption; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24405/26]

2202. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action his Department intends to take following the EPA early insights nitrogen indicators report showing that nitrogen levels in rivers rose by 10% in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24406/26]

2254. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware of recent footage circulating on social media which appears to show greyhounds being kept in conditions giving rise to serious animal welfare concerns at a premises (details supplied); whether his Department has initiated a formal investigation into this matter; the timeline for any such investigation; and if he will…

766. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has approved the loading of approximately 5,000 cattle at Greenore Port onto the livestock vessel MV Saleh scheduled to arrive on or about 10 March 2026; the destination country for these cattle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21966/26]

767. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department is aware that the livestock vessel MV Saleh (details supplied) has recently transported cattle shipments primarily to Israel; whether the Department expects the cattle being loaded in Greenore Port to be exported to that destination; whether any conditions have been attached to the export licence in this regar…

768. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm that the MV Saleh has the capacity to transport up to 5,000 cattle; whether this represents the largest livestock export shipment to depart from Ireland to date; the additional welfare oversight measures that will be in place given the scale of the consignment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21968…

769. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the specific animal welfare inspections, veterinary supervision, and stocking density requirements that will apply to the transport of cattle on the MV Saleh; whether Department officials will be present during loading at Greenore Port; and how compliance with EU animal transport regulations will be monitored during the voyage, give…

770. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether he has considered the appropriateness of permitting the export of live cattle to the Middle East region at a time when charter aircraft are reportedly being organised to repatriate Irish citizens from the region; if he will outline the Government's policy considerations in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the …

771. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether the Department intends to review Ireland's policy on long-distance live animal exports following the proposed shipment of up to 5,000 cattle on the MV Saleh; if he will outline plans to strengthen oversight or introduce further restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21971/26]

78. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in light of warnings from EU farm organisations that the price of EU-produced fertilisers has increased by approximately 25% in the past month compared with the 2024 average, and given that fertilisers account for between 15% and 30% of horticulture farmers’ input costs on average, the steps he is taking to support growers and the ho…

135. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the specific measures his Department intends to take to address the growing number of reported dog attacks on sheep and other livestock, including whether current dog control legislation and enforcement mechanisms are sufficient to protect farmers animals and livestock welfare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20584/2…

1458. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there are any discussions or expressions of interest with his Department for any future octopus farms in Irish waters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20057/26]

482. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if heifers remained in the trucks while waiting to be loaded onto the vessel, or were they taken to an assembly centre where they were unloaded, rested, and fed when they were exported from Ireland to Libya on 5 January 2025 (details supplied); if they were held at an assembly centre; if so, which centre(s) were used; the reason for…

974. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware of the recent death of a horse in a sulky race (details supplied); the current legal status of sulky racing in Ireland; if there are measures to better regulate this practice; his plans for better animal welfare regulations, particularly in the equine sports sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1225…

483. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the dedicated livestock vessel used to transport the 117 pregnant heifers exported from Ireland to Libya on 5 January 2025, including the name of the vessel on which the animals were shipped from Spain; whether this vessel will be authorised for use from Ireland under Irish and EU animal welfare and transport standards; the total du…

2. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his response to a recent fatal farm incident in County Limerick involving a farmer in his 90s; and, in light of provisional Health and Safety Authority figures showing that 23 people died in the agriculture sector in 2025, accounting for 40% of all workplace fatalities despite the sector employing approximately 4% of the workforce, th…

796. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it has been brought to his attention that the 117 dairy heifers exported to Libya on 5 January 2025, at the time of certification and approval for transport from Ireland to Spain, were intended for onward export by sea to Libya; whether any assessment was undertaken by his Department of animal welfare conditions on that onward jo…

1786. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether the 117 dairy heifers exported to Libya on 5 January 2025 were pregnant at the time of export; the procedures which were followed to verify their gestation stage in accordance with EC Regulation 1/2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74099/25]

1787. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the journey log for 5 January 2025 Libya shipment lists Murcia, Spain as the destination; to provide details of the method of transport from Spain to Libya, including whether a livestock vessel was used and whether it complied with the Carriage of Livestock by Sea Regulation 2016; and if he will make a statement on the m…

1788. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to confirm whether all 117 heifers arrived safely in Libya; the details of any injuries, illnesses, or mortalities during transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74101/25]

1789. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the route, means of transport, duration, and veterinary supervision for the 287 unweaned dairy calves exported to Libya in May 2025, including the journey from France to Libya; the measures taken to ensure compliance with EC Regulation 1/2005 on feeding and rest intervals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74102/25]

1790. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to confirm whether all 287 unweaned calves arrived safely in Libya; the details of any injuries, illnesses, or mortalities during the journey; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74103/25]

1791. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the process used by his Departments veterinary inspectors to verify that in-calf heifers exported to Algeria on 15 November 2025 had less than 90% of their expected gestation completed; the way in which the fitness for transport of pregnant cows is assessed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74104/25]

1792. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures which are taken to ensure the safety of calves if a birth occurs during transit, including space allocation for pregnant cows, and whether any cows gave birth during the recent shipment to Algeria; and if so, whether the cows and calves arrived safely; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74105/25]