Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 June 2024
326. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will establish, immediately, a register of those convicted of animal cruelty or neglect, in order to preclude them from keeping animals and particularly from working with animals, and-or being licensed to do so by his Department or any arm of the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27200/24]
View answerThe 2013 Animal Health and Welfare Act provides an effective framework to protect the welfare of animals in Ireland, including through prosecutions for breaches of the Act. Upon conviction, the courts may among the range of penalties available to it, make an order banning an offender from keeping animals.
Court proceedings are carried out publicly and animal welfare proceedings are frequently reported in the local and national press. There are no plans to set up a national register of those convicted of animal cruelty in court.
