480. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in the context of the revision of the EU Animal Transport Regulation and the European Commission’s EU Livestock Strategy, the position Ireland is taking on the development of a clear EU roadmap to facilitate a gradual transition, where economically and practically viable, from long-distance live animal transport towards the transport and t…
Topics / Animal Welfare
A subject heading for parliamentary questionsAnimal Welfare
386 questions from 67 TDs, between 22 January 2025 and 22 October 2026.
386
questions
382 written, 4 oral
67
TDs have asked
10
parties and groups
Independents counted together
8
departments asked
Questions per month
The record holds no questions for August, when the Dáil does not sit.
Jan 2025Oct 2026
Show as a table
| Month | Questions |
|---|---|
| January 2025 | 1 |
| February 2025 | 8 |
| March 2025 | 15 |
| April 2025 | 34 |
| May 2025 | 4 |
| June 2025 | 8 |
| July 2025 | 12 |
| August 2025 | 0 |
| September 2025 | 18 |
| October 2025 | 22 |
| November 2025 | 35 |
| December 2025 | 4 |
| January 2026 | 12 |
| February 2026 | 42 |
| March 2026 | 17 |
| April 2026 | 47 |
| May 2026 | 41 |
| June 2026 | 19 |
| July 2026 | 7 |
| August 2026 | 0 |
| September 2026 | 13 |
| October 2026 | 27 |
Who asks, by party
The party each TD belonged to on the day, in alphabetical order. Parties differ a lot in size, and members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them, so this shows who raised it, not how much a party cares about it.
The TDs who asked most
Members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them. Each question counts once.
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49
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37
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34
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24
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22
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17
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15
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14
Asked of
Debated under the same heading
Debates whose official heading is exactly these words.
The questions
482. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in light of recent research published in 2026 (details supplied) which found that a significant proportion of unweaned calves transported from Ireland to the Netherlands had underlying respiratory disease which was not identified through standard clinical assessment, if Ireland is seeking changes to the fitness-for-transport requirements f…
627. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide the number of thoroughbreds rehomed through Treo Eile and the Irish horse welfare trust in 2026. [68732/26]
126. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration will be given to introducing a targeted financial support or grant to assist older people and pensioners living alone with the cost of adopting a rescue animal, in view of the rising number of dogs being euthanised in local authority pounds and the recognised health and companionship benefits for older people at risk of s…
128. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration will be given to providing dedicated funding or support, whether through his Department's annual animal welfare grant programme or otherwise, to sustain and expand existing schemes that waive adoption fees for older people adopting a rescue animal (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67357/2…
130. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if consideration will be given to introducing a targeted financial support or grant to assist older people and pensioners living alone with the cost of adopting a rescue animal, in view of the rising number of dogs being euthanised in local authority pounds and the recognised health and companionship benefits for older people at risk of s…
132. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason his Department does not collect data on incidences in the egg industry of osteoporosis, peritonitis, egg binding and uterine prolapse; if he is aware whether a Government, local authority or any other body is actively engaged in the collection of this data; if no data is collected on these incidences in laying hens, the re…
134. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to PQ 50437/26, the reason his Department does not collect data on the number of, and the reason for mortalities for hen producers; the reason he considers it unnecessary to collect and assess this data; if he is aware of the significant mortality rate in the industry; and the way in which his Department can form an accurate …
996. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether he accepts that dog breeding establishments licensed to keep in excess of 300 breeding bitches may give rise to significant animal welfare concerns relating to individual care, exercise, socialisation and oversight; whether his Department has undertaken any review of the appropriateness of existing licensing thresholds; …
997. Deputy Paul Nicholas Gogarty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 and associated regulations with a view to introducing a maximum cap on the number of breeding dogs that may be kept at a single licensed dog breeding establishment. [65464/26]
999. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to introduce legislation to regulate the welfare of horses used to transport tourists throughout Dublin City. [65523/26]
1001. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether further DNA testing is needed in relation to cattle (details supplied); the timeline for the resolution of the issue; and to request that his Department communicate with the family in regard to this process. [65737/26]
1002. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when his Department was initially informed of a serious animal welfare issue (details supplied); the measures his Department is taking to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the cattle; and the steps being taken to assist the farm in question throughout this process. [65736/26]
517. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Transport his current plan for the introduction of legislation to ensure the welfare of horses being used to provide horse-drawn carriage services for tourists in Dublin city centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60974/26]
518. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Transport the timeline for the introduction of legislation regulating horse-drawn carriages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60968/26]
1223. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Youth her views on a practice in some schools for which animal welfare concerns have been raised (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56186/26]
26. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions he has taken to improve horse welfare in Cork. [51018/26]
34. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the mortality rates in live cattle exports; if he will consider ending the practice on animal welfare grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52309/26]
36. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied). [52272/26]
62. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied that the enforcement powers available under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 are sufficient to protect horses being used on public roads; whether his Department has conducted any review of horse welfare risks associated with horse-drawn vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43413/26]
66. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has engaged with the Minister for Transport and the Minister for Justice; Home Affairs and Migration regarding the operation of the Control of Horses Act 1996 as it relates to horses being used on public roads; his views on whether the current legislative framework provides adequate powers to safeguard animal welfare and public sa…
79. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider a ban on fox hunting with dogs in light of a Bill to ban hunting mammals with dogs passing second stage in the Northern Ireland Assembly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52310/26]
667. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of any proposals to introduce updated urban horse control legislation; the timeline for the publication of such legislation; and the measures being considered to address ongoing concerns regarding horse welfare, public safety, anti-social behaviour and enforcement challenges in urban areas, particularly where local author…
370. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated first and full-year cost of increasing the budget for animal welfare charities by 10%. [48425/26]
385. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware of concerns regarding the presence of horses and ponies grazing at unauthorised encampments on the Curragh, County Kildare and the potential biosecurity risks this poses to the wider equine industry, including the spread of diseases such as strangles; whether his Department has engaged with relevant authorities on this…