Veterinary Ireland

Lobbying Organisation Veterinary Ireland

Date published 24 May, 2016

Relevant Matter Legislation

Public Policy Area Agriculture

Period 1 Jan, 2016 to 30 Apr, 2016

Specific Details Veterinary Ireland AGM Motions - Legislation

Intended results The Minister to introduce Regulations under the Animal Health & Welfare Act in consultation with relevant stakeholders, including Veterinary Ireland, in order to regulate the following sectors: Pet Shops; Animal Rescue & Rehoming Centres; Boarding Kennels; Circuses. Following a comprehensive scientific review and in line with the current opinion of the Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI), Veterinary Ireland calls on the Minister to impose a complete ban on prophylactic tail docking and dew claw removal in all dogs, regardless of breed or circumstance, in the best interests of animal health and animal welfare. The Minister's Department (DAFM) to instigate an increased and effective inspection regime for dogs and horses at all Irish posts (and in collaboration with DARD Northern Ireland) in line with the Balai Directive and the identification and Registration of Equines Regulations, and so benefit animal health, animal welfare and public health (e.g. defence against rabies and other exotic diseases in dogs, horses, other animals and/or humans). The Minister's Department (DAFM) to redraft the Microchipping of Dogs Regulations to reinstate the requirement that puppies under 12 weeks which are not in compliance with the Regulations only leave their birth place to go to a Registered Veterinary Premises. As Registered Veterinary Premises are inspected, regulated and have the required hygiene standards, such redrafting of the Regulations would ensure that such potentially unvaccinated puppies are not exposed to any undue health risks. The Minister's Department (DAFM) to further redraft the Microchipping of Dogs Regulations to include a restriction on the advertisement for sale of any puppy not already implanted with a microchip and registered in compliance with the Regulations. A redrafting of the Regulations would ensure enforcement at the earliest possible stage. The Minister's Department (DAFM) to engage with the Advertising Standards Authority to ensure that all canines advertised for sale comply with the Microchipping of Dogs Regulations 2015, in its current, and any amended, form. A redrafting of the Regulations would ensure enforcement of the Regulations, and to safeguard animal health, animal welfare and public health. The Minister's Department (DAFM) to review the current Animal Remedies legislation, and amend if required, with a view to enshrining best ethical practice in said legislation, in the interests of safeguarding public health. In light of the recent inadequacies in staffing levels identified at USDA Inspections, the Motion called on the Minister's Department (DAFM) to engage meangingfully with Veterinary Ireland to ensure appropriate staffing levels are in place to carry out meat inspection duties to the specifications of EU Regulation 854/2004. to the benefit of animal health, animal welfare, public health and the reputation of the Irish agri-food industry. The Minister, in the interests of Animal Health, Animal Welfare & Public Health, to engage with Veterinary Ireland & the VCI in establishing a regulatory framework for para-professional groups covered under the Veterinary Practice (Amendment) Act 2012, to ensure that such groups work from a primary Veterinary diagnosis, in the interests of maintaining Animal Health, Animal Welfare and Public Health. In the light of the abandoned horses crisis in Ireland over the last seven years, and the current loophole which allows a potential void in responsibility and traceability for horse changing ownership, the Minister to implement Official DAFM controls, to ensure renewed onus on the seller for transferring responsibility for a horse to the purchaser, in order to increase responsibility and traceability, to counter the abandoned horse crisis, and so benefit Equine Health and Welfare. In light of the recently enacted Animal Health & Welfare Act and Microchipping of Dogs Regulations 2015, the Minister to review the Control of Dogs Act 1986 and Control of Dogs (Amendment) Act 1992, with a view to enacting more comprehensive and effective legislation, if deemed necessary.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Finbarr Murphy, Chief Executive, Veterinary Ireland.

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.

Letter (1)

Email (1)

Meeting (1)

Meeting 26.1.16

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.

Simon Coveney Minister (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)

Áine Collins TD (Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas)

Richard Healy Director (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine)