491. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of inspections carried out by his Department in each of the past five years relating to equine welfare, including cases involving neglect, mistreatment, abandonment, or tethering; the number of horses seized, euthanised, or otherwise removed from owners following such inspections; the number of prosecutions initiated under the …
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
492. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the regulatory and enforcement framework governing the breeding, keeping, and welfare of dogs used for hunting purposes; the number of inspections carried out by his Department or on its behalf in each of the past five years in respect of dog breeding establishments and private dog keepers; the number of enforcement actions taken, includi…
493. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department maintains a central database or cross-agency mechanism to identify repeat offenders under animal welfare legislation; if not, whether consideration has been given to introducing such a system; and if he will make a statement on how repeat offenders are currently identified and restricted from continued animal owners…
880. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of inspections carried out by his Department, or on its behalf, relating specifically to the welfare of exotic animals kept as pets, including reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates and non-domesticated mammals, in each of the years 2020 to 2025 inclusive; the number of non-compliances identified; the number of animals seized; and…
881. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department maintains disaggregated records relating specifically to inspections, seizures and enforcement actions involving exotic pets, distinct from other animal welfare cases; and if not, the reason such records are not maintained. [9497/26]
882. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to set out clearly which public body holds lead statutory responsibility for the routine inspection and enforcement of animal welfare standards in respect of exotic animals kept as pets in private ownership; and how responsibility is apportioned between his Department, local authorities, and any other State bodies. [9498/26]
883. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether his Department has conducted or commissioned any formal risk assessments since 2015 relating to zoonotic disease, public health risk, or biosecurity threats arising from the private ownership of exotic pets; if so, to provide the dates, scope and issuing bodies of such assessments; and if not, the reason no such assessments have b…
884. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of veterinary inspectors employed by or available to his Department who have formal training or recognised expertise in the treatment and welfare of exotic species; and whether his Department has identified any gaps in national capacity to deal with the seizure, treatment or rehoming of exotic animals. [9500/26]
885. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of investigations carried out by his Department since 2020 into the sale or supply of exotic pets through online platforms; the number of breaches identified under the Animal Health and Welfare (Sale or Supply of Pet Animals) Regulations 2019; and the enforcement actions taken in each year. [9501/26]
886. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine whether he will initiate a specific, time-bound review of the regulation of exotic pets in Ireland, separate from the general Animal Welfare Strategy, including consideration of positive or prohibited species lists; and if so, the proposed commencement date and reporting timeline. [9502/26]
887. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress made in addressing the issue of wandering, unchipped horses in urban settings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9519/26]
888. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions he and his Department have conducted to address animal welfare concerns on Irish pig farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9604/26]
901. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the recent animal cruelty reports due to illegal harness racing and sulky racing that is currently happening on Irish roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10441/26]
14. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the increase in funding for animal welfare groups as committed to in the programme for Government; if multi-annual funding can be considered to allow for longer-term planning by these groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6000/26]
18. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the Animal Welfare Strategy 2026 – 2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5999/26]
50. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of authorised officers on animal cruelty based in the Regional Veterinary Office in Blackpool; and the number of investigations for animal cruelty carried out from this office in the past 12 months. [6192/26]
62. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the specific measures being considered in the upcoming Animal Strategy Report 2026 - 2030 which closed earlier this month, to address gaps or shortcomings in current animal welfare legislation, particularly with regard to canine and equine welfare where we continually see cases of cruelty and neglect; if his Department will ensure t…
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…
813. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update on the appointment of a county dog warden and two additional dog wardens at Cork County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4155/26]
1783. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason an animal welfare organisation (details supplied) have had their annual animal welfare grant reduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [73959/25]
1785. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason funding was cut for an organisation (details supplied); if this will be reviewed and the funding be reinstated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [74077/25]
1850. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an up-to-date report in 2025 on the number of horses currently registered in the State, by category and county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1860/26]
1851. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the enforcement of horse welfare and control measures; if he is satisfied that current resources are adequate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1861/26]
1852. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when members of the Oireachtas can expect an updated strategy or legislative proposals relating to horse traceability, abandonment and welfare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1862/26]
1853. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which funding allocated for horse welfare in 2025 was spent; the outcomes achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1863/26]