Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 April 2024
265. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a reply has not issued to a query submitted to his Department (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18669/24]
View answerA large volume of correspondence has been received from the group in question and has been responded to. Apologies that your email of March 8th, which was one of a number on the same topic, was not individually replied to. Staff from my Department have been actively engaged in seeking to help resolve aspects of the matters raised.
Staff from Castlebar Regional Veterinary Office (RVO) met the Achill Concerned Property Owners Group on 9 February 2024 in Westport Garda Station. Following the meeting RVO staff visited Achill on three occasions up until 26th March 2024 with a view to identifying possible breaches of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013.
On 23 February a dead sheep was found on the property of an Achill resident. The sheep tag identified the owner and a direction was issued by DAFM to remove and safely dispose of the carcass. The direction was complied with. Details of the non-compliance were forwarded to my Departments Integrated Controls Division (ICD) to consider if there were any identifiable breaches of the rules that they enforce. ICD identified no breaches of their rules.
Trespass falls within the remit of An Garda Síochána and they are the appropriate body to further progress this matter.
