Animal Cruelty

Oral Answers to Questions – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 3:00 pm on 3 February 2014.

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Photo of Chris Lyttle Chris Lyttle Alliance 3:00, 3 February 2014

6. asked the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development if she plans to review how her Department tackles animal cruelty. (AQO 5444/11-15)

Photo of Michelle O'Neill Michelle O'Neill Sinn Féin

The welfare of animals is protected by the Welfare of Animals Act 2011, which recognises that causing an animal unnecessary suffering is a very serious offence.  To reflect that, it significantly increased the penalties from those that were available under the previous Act.  The Act provides powers for inspectors to take a range of enforcement actions appropriate to the circumstances of each case, including giving advice, giving a warning, issuing a legally binding improvement notice or prosecution.

The Act also sets out very clear enforcement roles.  It gives my Department responsibility for the enforcement in relation to farmed animals.  The PSNI has responsibility for enforcement in respect of wild animals, animal fighting and welfare issues where other criminal activities are involved.  Since 2 April 2012, the Act has given councils responsibility for enforcement in respect of non-farmed animals such as domestic pets and horses.  My Department provides annual funding for councils to support that work.

The involvement of councils has been a major step forward, as it is the first time that the North has had a dedicated manpower resource to investigate animal welfare complaints in respect of non-farmed animals and a budget to fund the work.  Since April 2012, councils have investigated over 8,000 animal welfare complaints, carried out over 11,000 inspections and served over 360 improvement notices.  They have also successfully prosecuted in four animal welfare cases, and I am aware that there are a substantial number of other cases being prepared for prosecution.

I believe that the involvement of councils in this work is a very positive development, and I am encouraged by the valuable work that they have undertaken to date.  It is important that we allow sufficient time for the enforcement arrangements laid down in the Act to fully bed in before considering further changes.

Photo of Chris Lyttle Chris Lyttle Alliance

I thank the Minister for the work that she is doing to tackle animal cruelty.  How effective have the sentencing guidelines set by her Department been in deterring people from partaking in such heinous crime?

Photo of Michelle O'Neill Michelle O'Neill Sinn Féin

Sentencing within the legislative framework is a matter for the judiciary.  I have engaged with Minister Ford to ensure that the sentencing is sufficient and reflects the actions that have been taken forward.  In making sentencing decisions, it comes down to the judiciary and the law.  Following the introduction of the Act, I met Minister Ford, and he assured me that he raised the issue with the Lord Chief Justice, and in his programme of action on sentencing, he has enhanced the structures by which the judiciary ensures consistent and appropriate sentencing.  I think that it is important that there is consistency when all these cases are taken before the courts.  I am delighted that that has now happened, and we have something in place that all judges can refer to when it comes to dealing with cases of animal cruelty, which, in my opinion, should be dealt with in a way that makes sure that there is a proper deterrent so that it does not happen again.

Photo of Bronwyn McGahan Bronwyn McGahan Sinn Féin 3:15, 3 February 2014

Go raibh maith agat.  I thank the Minister for her response.  Minister, what funding do you provide to councils to assist with that matter, given the recent horse cruelty in Clogher valley in my constituency?

Photo of Michelle O'Neill Michelle O'Neill Sinn Féin

My Department is providing annual funding to help councils to implement their new role of investigating complaints and carrying out enforcement actions, including employing nine full-time animal welfare officers.  I made £760,000 available for 2011-12, £780,000 for 2012-13 and £800,000 for this financial year, so the figure will increase by £20,000 for 2014-15.  The funding also allows councils to assist animal welfare officers in carrying out their role by providing administrative support, bringing in specialist veterinary advice, paying for animal care costs and securing legal costs.

Photo of Mitchel McLaughlin Mitchel McLaughlin Sinn Féin

That ends the period for oral questions.  We will now move on to 15 minutes of topical questions.