To date, 226 successful prosecutions have been taken under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon said.

A number of other investigations are ongoing, according to the minister.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has lead policy responsibility within government for animal welfare and "takes the matter of animal welfare most seriously", Minister Heydon said.

"I am committed to the policy that animal welfare standards are vigorously applied in a fair and even-handed manner," he said.

Animal welfare

The legal framework within which issues relating to animal neglect or cruelty are addressed is the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013.

"This is a modern act and replaced a number of enactments dating back over a century," Minister Heydon said.

"The act is the main legal instrument available to my department to enforce animal welfare standards.

"Where breaches or shortcomings are identified, appropriate enforcement action is undertaken by my department and authorised officers under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013."

These include An Garda Síochána, customs agents, authorised officers appointed by local authorities and the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (NSPCA).

Penalties

The minister was responding to questions from independent TD Barry Heneghan who asked whether consideration is being given to increasing resources for animal welfare enforcement "in view of ongoing reports of animal cruelty and neglect".

He also asked Minister Heydon what actions are being taken to strengthen penalties and enforcement measures under the act for persons convicted of serious animal cruelty offences and whether consideration is being given to mandatory lifetime bans on animal ownership in the most serious cases.

Minister Heydon said that any reports of welfare issues received by his department, including breaches of the animal welfare legislation, are acted upon and investigated.

"The act provides for a range of penalties that may be imposed," the minister explained.

"On summary conviction, an offender may be fined up to €5,000 and/or be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of up to six months.

"On conviction on indictment, a fine of up to €250,000 and or a term of five years imprisonment may be imposed."

Minister Heydon said that to date, 226 successful prosecutions have been taken under the act, and a number of other investigations are ongoing.

Under review

He said that the department keeps the act under review in light of key developments in the area of animal health and welfare, the legislative environment more generally, and having regard to the practical lessons learned from operating the act.

"Since the introduction of the act, approximately 1,000 staff within my department have been designated as authorised officers," the minister said.

"A large number of these authorised officers are based in my department’s network of regional veterinary offices throughout the country, providing nationwide coverage.

He added that he is "satisfied that these resources are sufficient nationwide coverage".

"Authorised officers carry out inspections and investigations, and work towards ensuring the welfare of animals and compliance with legislation, with interventions ranging from advice to warnings, and to legal compliance notices," the minister said.

"When necessary, legal sanctions are imposed, and prosecutions are taken when other efforts to ensure compliance have failed or there is blatant disregard for an animal’s welfare."