The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney TD, announced that the Animal Health & Welfare Bill has now been passed by both houses of the Oireachtas and will be sent to the President for signing in the coming days.
Welcoming the passage of the Bill through the Oireachtas, Minister Coveney said that the bill represents a significant step forward in the area of animal health and welfare law. It is a major piece of legislation, containing seventy eight sections, updating and replacing a wide range of existing legislation, some which, such as the Protection of Animals Act 1911, are over a century old.
The Animal Health & Welfare Bill will be sent to the President shortly and following his signing will be published as an Act and commenced into law. Following this, there will be a number of specific tasks, including a public consultation on the issue of microchipping of dogs.
Wednesday May 22, 2013/ Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine/ Ireland.
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