The new Animal Health Strategy will be published in the second quarter of (Q2) 2026, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Martin Heydon has said.

In November last year, Minister Heydon launched a public consultation process inviting views to inform development of the new Animal Welfare Strategy for his department in the period 2026-2030.

The minister has said that the new strategy will act as a "framework for engagement and collaboration to direct future activities with the aim of benefiting both animals and Irish society".

"A non-statutory public consultation ran to January 2 this year to inform the development of this strategy," he said.

"As a non-statutory consultation, it is not intended to publish individual submissions.

"However the input received will culminate in the new strategy being developed, agreed and published in Q2 2026."

Dog control

Responding to a question from Social Democrats TD Jennifer Whitmore, Minister Heydon said a report of the Dog Control Stakeholder Group will also be delivered shortly.

"The stakeholder group was established to consider policy and legislative matters, specifically in relation to the Dog Control Acts and the Dog Breeding Establishments Act," the minister said.

"I am committed to reviewing all legislation relating to dogs and in this regard will be guided by the recommendations of the group.

"I expect the dog control stakeholder group to revert to me with recommendations shortly."