Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 9 September 2024
1237. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he agrees that animal welfare should be made a core subject in the school curriculum; and if he will review this with the Minister for Education. [34274/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAnimal welfare is a key priority for me as Minister and for the Government. The Department of Education has policy responsibility for the school curriculum - I have no plans currently to engage with the Minster regarding the possibility of including animal welfare on the school curriculum.
One of the strategic principles espoused in Ireland’s Animal Welfare strategy 2021-2025, "Working Together for Animal Welfare", which I launched in 2021, is indeed improving education and knowledge - and emphasising the need for owners and keepers of animals in particular to understand and acknowledge their primary responsibility and to equip themselves with the necessary knowledge and skills and this is where my Department's main focus is.
The Strategy recommended the establishment of an independently chaired Advisory Council on Companion Animal Welfare (ACCAW). I established ACCAW in November 2021, comprising independent members, with a range of expertise and experience. ACCAW advises me on policy matters and where appropriate, issue guidelines and recommendations in relation to companion animals. Among items for consideration by ACCAWE is the most appropriate ways and content of educating owners about caring for their animals. I look forward to ongoing input from the ACCAW in this regard.
An example of the ACCAW work was in the development of the Department’s approach to the animal welfare issue posed by brachycephalic (flat-faced) dog breeds. ACCAW advised that the use of images of brachycephalic dog breeds in advertising, marketing and news media has contributed to increasing demand for brachycephalic dogs in this country. An open letter was therefore issued by my Department, on behalf of ACCAW, to media and advertising organisations, requesting that they refrain from unnecessary use of images of these dogs in publications, on merchandise or for product endorsement.
My Department is also working with Minister Humphrey’s Department in relation to responsible dog ownership, to coordinate across government on this subject. Resulting from this collaboration, in December last year my Department and the Department of Rural and Community Development jointly launched a responsible dog ownership leaflet. This has been distributed widely and is available in electronic form online. We expect to carry out further initiatives to encourage responsible dog ownership in 2024
I also supported the establishment of a Chair in Animal Welfare and Veterinary Ethics in University College Dublin, which will add focus to animal welfare education at all levels.
The matter of animal welfare is a constantly evolving topic and all aspects are kept under on-gong review.
