Questions

636. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the division of responsibility for dog control and dog breeding since legislative and policy control have moved to his Department. [56721/25]

637. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of the fact that legislative and policy control for the control of dogs has moved to his Department, who specifically will be responsible for deciding which dogs in local authority dog shelters will be euthanised; and if a standard national euthanasia policy will be implemented. [56722/25]

639. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the specific date when he expects the publication, and entry into force, of the regulations banning the use of dogs and cats electronic shock collars operated by hand-held remote controls. [56724/25]

643. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration has been given to preparing a "positive list" i.e. a list of species permitted to be kept as pets by private owners, particularly given the recent public outcry following footage of a zebra inside a pub in County Clare. [56728/25]

644. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration has been given to implementing Lucy’s Law in the Republic of Ireland given that it is being implemented in Northern Ireland and in view of the fact the puppy trade is exacerbated given the Border (details supplied). [56729/25]

658. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he is taking to deal with the ongoing issues with regard to illegal sulky racing causing danger to horses and road users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56989/25]

670. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked 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…

671. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked 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…

103. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the measures being taken to strengthen existing animal welfare laws and enforcement mechanisms; if his Department intends to engage with campaign representatives to progress the aims of Stout's law (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55118/25]

119. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will consider designating authorised officer status to the inspectors an organisation (details supplied) given currently the organisation handles far higher equine volumes than any other organisation in Ireland and lack of authorised officer status creates delays in seizures, prevents lawful statutory evidence gat…

133. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider increasing the allocation for an organisation (details supplied) under the animal welfare grant programme proportionate to the workload and costs the organisation incurs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54714/25]

735. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions he is taking to regulate sulky racing. [54898/25]

485. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if additional funding will be made available in Budget 2026 for animal welfare charities given the very challenging circumstances at present and the unprecedented number of abandoned and surrendered animals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53174/25]

384. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports which will continue to be made available to a facility (details supplied); the action being taken on a recent complaint by the facility against an inspection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52915/25]

760. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline the Government’s plans in relation to chicken welfare; if his Department has a specific roadmap for aligning with European Food Safety Agency’s proposed poultry welfare standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52122/25]

143. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to publish the sanction letter and conditions attached to the €200,000 advance payment made to an organisation (details supplied) in August 2024, together with the balance paid in November 2024; the way in which his Department has verified compliance with those conditions; if there was a connection between this exceptional payment a…

144. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied the advance funding in 2024 was used for agreed purposes and none of the advance funding provided to an organisation (details supplied) in 2024 was applied towards legal settlements, redundancy payments, or merger costs without prior Departmental approval; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50627/25]

514. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware of the impending closure of an animal rehabilitation centre (details supplied); if his Department has plans for the building, stables and lands which was used by the centre given its importance to the local community as well as its regional work; and if he will work with the organisation to determine if funding will be fo…

316. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the arrangements that are in place to ensure that regional ISPCA facilities, such as the Donegal Animal Rehabilitation Centre, are safeguarded under the new National SPCA structure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49460/25]

947. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will expand the annual animal welfare grant to rehoming charities with a ring-fenced subhead for rescue adoption supports (neutering, microchipping, initial veterinary check); if he will develop a standardised rehoming certificate to support any Revenue-administered adoption credit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. […

1745. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions that will be taken to ensure enforcement of current legislation regarding the control and welfare of horses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45280/25]

1746. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the considerations underway regarding an update to legislation on the control and welfare of horses, specifically regarding unnecessary suffering and endangerment to the welfare of horses; if enforceable sanctions will be a priority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45281/25]

1754. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures being taken to tackle the ongoing issue of illegal sulky racing on public roads, which presents a serious danger to road users and involves widespread mistreatment of horses and ponies; if the Minister is aware of recent documented incidents of such races, including one highlighted by an organisation (details supplied) whi…

1775. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the possibility of outlawing the practice of sulky racing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46086/25]

1778. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures being taken to strengthen equine identification and traceability systems, including the enforcement of microchipping regulations, in order to improve animal welfare, prevent fraud and ensure compliance with EU standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46118/25]