Animal Welfare

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 statem…

1159. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if he has read a report (details supplied); his views on this report, and his views on whether elephants should be phased out of zoos. [45236/25]

1229. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if a hare conservation status survey is underway in his Department, as required under the Habitats Directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46071/25]

1230. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage when his Department will publish the 2024-2025 hare conservation status survey, as required under the Habitats Directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46072/25]

1531. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to outline the role and powers regarding horses of animal health and welfare liaison inspectors nominated in Garda divisions; if specific statistics are recorded for their work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45298/25]

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 (d…

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]

1779. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has undertaken or plans to undertake a review of the current legislation relating to carriage horses, with a view to ensuring that the highest standards of animal welfare, safety and regulation are being applied; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46119/25]

1791. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the role of his Department to ensure that regulatory and animal welfare standards are adhered to in respect of horses exported from the State destined for horse abattoirs in other states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46511/25]

1842. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to confirm that Ireland will support the European Parliament’s position to allow tail docking for diagnostic, prophylactic and therapeutic purposes when the matter of the Council of the EU’s position is being discussed ahead of upcoming trilogue negotiations on the European Commission’s proposal on the welfare of …

2222. Deputy Sinéad Gibney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the plans to ban or limit the practice of blood sports in Ireland such as hare coursing and fox hunting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43611/25]

457. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware that it is now illegal to export live animals from the UK and the way in which this affects Irish livestock and horses; and if his Department is considering a ban. [40427/25]

154. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the current status of animal welfare monitoring and oversight at Dublin Zoo; the independent inspections that have been conducted by the National Parks & Wildlife Service under the Zoo Directive during 2024 and 2025; what specific welfare issues, if any, were identified and what remedial actions have be…

124. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider appointing a national animal welfare director; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38000/25]

129. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of animal welfare offences committed, per county, in each of the various categories of offences, for the years 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38319/25]

687. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine who a person should contact regarding horses being held in poor conditions. [37709/25]

699. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to confirm receipt of a complaint from an person (details supplied) in Dublin mid-west regarding the neglect of an animal; to confirm that an investigation will take place or if an investigation is underway; when an investigation will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37341/25]

715. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the plans for an action plan to succeed the Animal Welfare Strategy 2021-2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37659/25]

716. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine who a person should contact regarding horses being held in poor conditions. [37708/25]

128. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding available for urban horse projects to help enhance awareness of animal health and welfare for participants and the wider nearby community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35134/25]

203. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address matters concerning the mysterious deaths of a large number of the farm animals (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36593/25]