THE IRISH BLUE CROSS WELCOME A NEW DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND THE MARINE ANIMAL WELFARE STRATEGY CONSULTATION PROCESS
21/09/2018
Understandings and beliefs held by members of the public in relation to animal welfare have become increasingly informed by social media as well as mainstream media coverage. Some practices which may have been acceptable in the past are no longer considered acceptable as new research findings, and reliable information has become available. These factors were a significant driver in enacting The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (“DAFM”) Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. The Act, which puts a legal responsibility on the owner of any protected animal to provide for their needs and provides strong enforcement powers, marked a significant step forward in the legislative framework in Ireland. Encouraging and welcome progress has been made on the legislative front in consultation with NGO’s and other stakeholders in inspection and controls. However, more needs to be done to develop a national strategy on Animal Welfare with a vision for Ireland to be recognised as a country that promotes and assures the welfare of all animals. A draft Animal Welfare Strategy Consultation Document was presented at the Animal Welfare Conference on Thursday 13thSeptember 2018 at the DAFM Backweston Campus. The strategy will be informed by discussion held at the conference and feedback from the various stakeholders. The Irish Blue Cross are proud to be contributing to that discussion and welcome the opportunity for all animal welfare stakeholders to respond to the Departments consultation process. Consultation closing date 31/10/18. Comments and submissions to awconferencesubmissions@agriculture.gov.ie or by mail to Animal Welfare Consultation, 4C Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Kildare Street Dublin 2. For more information: https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/media/migration/animalhealthwelfare/AnimalWelfareStrategyConsultation130918.pdf
