The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue T.D., today launched Ireland’s first over-arching Animal Welfare Strategy.
Welcoming the strategy, the Minister stated, “This Strategy reflects this government’s clear commitment to animal welfare. Irish people have a strong sense of empathy and responsibility towards animals and my Department has a proud history of supporting the welfare of animals , whether through policy initiatives, the provision of advice or guidance, or through financial assistance to farmers to help them improve their facilities, or financial supports to our animal welfare charities; we are now taking policy to a new level. Animal welfare is increasingly important to Irish citizens, and we are ever more aware of the interrelationship between the welfare of animals and human well-being. The importance of animal welfare is also reflected in the choices we make as consumers when buying animal-based products and our reputation for high welfare standards is vital to our export markets.”
Taking a ‘One Health, One Welfare’ approach, the strategy recognises the strong interconnections and interdependences between human, animal and environmental health, and is underpinned by five guiding principles; working in partnership, science and evidence-led policy-making, improving education and knowledge, consistent evaluation and assessment, and an effective regulatory system.
Minister McConalogue continued, “To be credible and effective, our policies must be knowledge-based and evidence-led, and I believe Ireland can become real leaders in the field. That is why I am proud to build our knowledge and expertise by supporting the UCD School of Veterinary Medicine in establishing Ireland’s first Chair in Animal Welfare and Veterinary Ethics, and I have asked Teagasc to prioritise animal welfare topics in its education and research pogrammes.”
The Minister said, “Delivering high animal welfare standards is a job for everyone in our society; for those who own, care for, or are responsible of animals, whether on farm or at home, but also for consumers in the choices they make. My Department will work in close partnership with other government Departments and agencies, as well as local authorities, animal welfare organisations, the farming community and agri-food industry, veterinary practitioners and nurses, agricultural advisors, as well as our researchers and educators. Together, we can ensure that as a society, we afford our companion, farmed and wild animals, the respect, care and high welfare standards they deserve.”
The Minister outlined his priorities for 2021. He said, “Before Easter, I will bring legislation before the Oireachtas to prohibit fur farming in the State. My Department will review the current ex gratia funding model for animal welfare charities and the underlying public policy objectives with a view to doubling the available funding. My Department will also lead, with partners, a new coordinated approach to the control of horses, to address the worrying evidence of straying and associated welfare concerns we see in some urban areas. And I am personally working closely with farmers and industry to ensure high welfare standards for calves born here in Ireland, whether they are destined for the domestic or export market”.
The Minister also announced that in a recent amendment to Ireland’s Rural Development Programme the investment ceiling available under the Pig and Poultry Investment Scheme (among the seven capital investment measures available under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS II)), is increased from €80,000 to €200,000 and will include some additional animal welfare conditionality. It is anticipated that this increased ceiling will be available in the next tranche of TAMS II. Additionally, investments for calf welfare previously available under the Calf Investment Scheme are included in the current tranche (open for applications until 16th April 2021).
Other actions under the Strategy include:
- The establishment of an independently chaired Advisory Council on Companion Animal Welfare, which will be chaired by Sean O’Laoide, Senior Vice President of the European Union of Veterinary Hygienists and former Chair of EuroFAWAC, the European Forum for Animal Welfare Councils.
- The Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Council will be renewed, with the appointment as chair of experienced veterinary practice manager and mentor, and former President of Veterinary Ireland, Ciara Feeney-Reid.
- There will be a renewed emphasis on animal based indicators to assess welfare standards and reduce the prevalence of tail docking in pigs.
- The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine will lead an inter-departmental group on exotic animals to advise on policy and regulation.
- Introduce a new system to improve greyhound traceability led by Rásaíocht Con Éireann.
The Animal Welfare Strategy 2021-2025 is available at www.gov.ie/en/publication/12d6a-animal-welfare-strategy/ .