Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA)

Lobbying Organisation Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

Date published 22 May, 2016

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area Agriculture

Period 1 Jan, 2016 to 30 Apr, 2016

Specific Details I met with Irish MEPs to discuss EU animal welfare legislation regarding the commercial trade in dogs and cats. I also raised the issue of inconsistent enforcement of the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 in Ireland.

Intended results To raise awareness of the animal welfare issues resulting from the commercial trade in dogs and cats between Member States. Support for consistent animal welfare legislation across all Member States Support for stronger enforcement of the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 in Ireland

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Dr Andrew Kelly, Chief Executive Officer

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Meeting (2-5)

The ISPCA is a member of the EU Dog and Cat Alliance http://www.dogandcatwelfare.eu/ which consists of 54 animal welfare organisations across the EU. The Alliance organised an event at the European Parliament to raise awareness amongst MEPs and organised a series of meetings between Alliance members and MEPs from the Alliance members' countries. I discussed animal welfare legislation in Ireland and the EU and introduced the MEPs that I met with to the Alliance. We called for consistent legislation across the EU to protect dogs and cats involved in commercial trade across Member State borders. I also made it clear that the ISPCA (as a member of the EU Dog and Cat Alliance. I met with Mairead McGuinness MEP, Brian Hayes MEP, Deirdre Clune MEP, the assistant of Sean Kelly MEP, and Marian Harkin, MEP.

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Mairead McGuinness MEP (European Parliament)

Deirdre Clune MEP (European Parliament)

Brian Hayes MEP (European Parliament)

Seán Kelly MEP (European Parliament)

Marian Harkin MEP (European Parliament)