DAFM has 'implemented specific actions to help improve' pig welfare
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) has implemented "specific actions to help improve the welfare" of pigs.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon said that "robust" EU and Irish national legislation is in place to protect the welfare of pigs.
"The legislation sets out detailed requirements on the housing, environmental conditions and management requirements for pigs that are kept for rearing or fattening," Minister Heydon said.
"Officials from my department carry out risk-based inspections on a selection of pig farms each year to check compliance with the legislation.
"Where non-compliances are identified, action is taken to address them."
The minister was responding to a question from leader of the Social Democrats, Holly Cairns, who asked about the actions DAFM has conducted "to address animal welfare concerns on Irish pig farms".
The minister said the department has carried out over 1,400 free animal welfare risk assessments across approximately 400 pig farms to date "with a view to improving pig welfare" on farms.
Housing
"Significant grant-aid funding is available to pig farmers under the Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Scheme (TAMS 3), to build new, high-welfare pig housing, to include much more space for pigs, more comfortable flooring and more feeding space," Minister Heydon explained.
"Specific measures have also been taken to promote a move away from the use of sow farrowing crates and stalls.
"Grant-aided housing requires bigger and well-designed farrowing pens where sows can only be kept in a crate for a few days around farrowing, the rest of the time they must be loose in the pen with their piglets."
The minister said that the European Commission has "committed to reviewing all of the existing EU animal welfare legislation, including the legislation on pig welfare".
"Work on that review and impact assessment is still ongoing at EU level and my department continues to support this review provided the legislative proposals are based on the latest science, with reasonable transition periods and that supports are made available to farmers," Minister Heydon said.
"My department strongly condemns any cruelty or mistreatment of animals.
"It is the policy of the department to investigate all allegations of illegal behaviour or abuse and to take appropriate enforcement action where appropriate."
The minister said that if members of the public are aware of any cases of suspected abuse or neglect, they can contact DAFM's animal welfare helpline.
