THE Government stressed that no instance of animal cruelty will be tolerated in the State as the Dail heard of significant improvements in recent legislation while €11m has been paid out to over 140 animal welfare organisations since 2011.

This week is World Animal Week (October 1st-7th).

Speaking on Animal Welfare in the Dail this week, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Andrew Doyle TD, emphasised the Government’s commitment to animal welfare and reiterated the Government will not tolerate any instance of animal cruelty.

Minister Doyle said: “Animal welfare is an important issue. There have been huge improvements in the legislative and non legislative regime that have brought about a change in attitudes in this country. The few individuals who do neglect and abuse animals find themselves more likely to be punished than ever before, which is as it should be. Equally education, understanding and awareness continue to improve and raise standards of animal welfare in this country.

“There is no doubt that there is greater engagement than ever by the public at large with issues to relating to animal welfare. Significant progress that has been made in recent years in the area of the welfare of animals. The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 was a major piece of legislation that updated and replaced around 40 pieces of primary legislation in the area of animal welfare and health, going back over 100 years.

“The Act is designed to allow intervention in a much wider range of cases than previously.

“As a result, minor cases can be tackled before they escalate and the Act is a vehicle to encourage and educate animal keepers. In the past where the 1911 Protection of Animals Act was the only recourse available, it could only be used where significant suffering had occurred. This new approach means that we will be tackling problems while they are relatively minor which makes the risk of escalation much lower,’’ said the Minister.

When it comes to enforcement of the law, 35 cases have been successfully prosecuted in recent years with a further 26 cases being looked at with a view to prosecuting.

Authorised enforcement officers include members of the Gardai, DOA officers, Customs and Excise officials and inspectors from the ISPCA and DSPCA.

“This co-operation with other organisations has been a major departure under the Act and arrangement has been working well. Individual officers of the Turf Club and Bord na gCon have also been authorised under the Act.

“I would like to express my thanks to these bodies for their valuable contribution to animal welfare,” said Minister Doyle.

HELPLINE

Deputies raised the monitoring of animal welfare and were informed that Departmental veterinary staff carry out regular farm inspections while the Department’s Animal Welfare Helpline (Lo-call 0761 064408), along with a dedicated email address (AnimalWelfare@agriculture.gov.ie) facilitates the reporting by members of the public of any suspicion of poor animal welfare or animal cruelty taking place. All calls received are treated in confidence and are followed up by authorised officers.

“Similarly, there are a variety of people involved with animals all of whom are aware of welfare issues and who can flag them up as and when they arise. Officers of my department, ISPCA or DSPCA officers, local authority vets and Dog Wardens in Dog Pounds and of course members of the public and animal welfare NGOs all play a role,” said Minister Doyle who is also bringing forward a new Greyhound Industry Bill in the autumn.