AQO 1005/17-22
Ms Kellie Armstrong
Alliance Party
Strangford
Tabled Date: 15/10/2020
Answered On Date: 04/11/2020
Priority Written: No
Question:
To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs what work his Department is undertaking to prevent delays to live animals at border controls becoming an animal welfare issue.
Answer:
The welfare of animals is a priority for my Department. DAERA’s Veterinary Service Animal Health Group (VSAHG) takes the welfare of animals very seriously and will safeguard animal welfare at points of entry to Northern Ireland now and in the future. VSAHG’s Portal Branch is experienced in the control of animal movements through Northern Ireland’s ports and airports. There is a dedicated livestock inspection facility in Larne port which provides a round-the-clock service to ensure that animal health and welfare standards are protected. My staff in Portal Branch monitor the welfare of animals moving through the port as part of their normal duties and take action when non-compliance is detected. To ensure that inspections at all points of entry can be delivered efficiently and with as little delay as possible, the Department is recruiting additional vets and animal health and welfare inspectors; installing new equipment including electronic tag readers to speed up the animal inspection process; and will clearly communicate process requirements to stakeholders. Live animal inspections will be prioritised to minimize delays. When increased numbers of live animal movements are anticipated managers will ensure that adequate resource is available to carry out the necessary checks in a timely way.
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