The Donkey Sanctuary Ireland (The Donkey Sanctuary Ireland)

Lobbying Organisation The Donkey Sanctuary Ireland

Date published 06 Jan, 2016

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Agriculture

Period 1 Jan, 2016 to 30 Apr, 2016

Specific Details The uncontrolled eligibility of donkeys for subsidy payments granted for ‘Areas of Natural Constraint’ (ANC), has been linked through a published independent report 'Donkey welfare in Ireland 2015' with potentially driving a market for indiscriminate breeding. Uncontrolled production is considered key to the increased numbers of donkeys being abandoned in Ireland in recent years - there is an excess of supply (in particular uncastrated colts) over demand.

Intended results Gradual changes in donkey eligibility criteria with a phasing out of new donkey registrations and new registrants using donkeys Inclusion of donkey welfare standards and inspections as a prerequisite for gaining ANC payments when using donkeys as Livestock Units Penalties (such as payment withdrawal) for those who do not meet the required standards Uncastrated donkeys should not be eligible as Livestock Units in the ANC subsidy scheme

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Noel Carton

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.

Event / Reception (1)

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Simon Coveney received an independent report on matters relating to donkey welfare in Ireland. The report was launched at the School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin on 25th November 2015. The report was commissioned by The Donkey Sanctuary in response to the high levels of abandoned Donkeys in Ireland . During 2014, 400 donkeys were admitted into the care of the charity’s Cork Sanctuary and, with 366 donkeys already admitted between January and the end of August 2015, the trend shows no sign of declining. The majority of these abandonments are young males .Latest figures published in the report indicate that over 2,500 donkeys are registered as Livestock Units for the purposes of claiming within the ANC scheme. It finds that figures for donkey abandonments are highest in counties with significant ANC activity, notable Counties Galway and Mayo which comprise approximately 30% of ANC applications relating to donkeys.

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)