Animal welfare and Ennis resources
With time nearly up, Deputy Carol Nolan called for stronger animal welfare enforcement after shocking cruelty cases, and Deputy Michael McNamara asked about extra resources for Ennis Hospital after the ambulance protocol change. The Taoiseach condemned the cruelty, said he would raise enforcement issues, and said Ennis would need resources if it was to take more patients.
We are over time and almost out of time. There are just two speakers left, so I will take the two speakers together, and they will have 30 seconds each.
Comment on this
As the Taoiseach will be aware, scenes emerged last week of horrific animal cruelty to a defenceless donkey in my county of Offaly. Since then, I understand the animal, along with others, has been rescued. This clearly shows our animal welfare laws are not being obeyed and that we need a more robust regime to deal with animal welfare. We also saw the case of a sheep farmer who had 50 lambs destroyed by dogs in Moneygall in County Offaly. Will the Taoiseach commit the Government to setting up a regime that will be funded and will enforce the animal welfare laws to ensure people obey them?
Comment on this
I return to the issue of the meeting at University Hospital Limerick, UHL, which the Taoiseach attended, at which the HSE acknowledged that the model 2 hospitals, such as those at Ennis and Nenagh, are underutilised. The CEO of UHL undertook to carry out a review of additional resources required at Ennis Hospital pursuant to the change in the ambulance protocol. Does the Taoiseach know the result of that review and what additional resources, if any, have been provided to Ennis as a result?
Comment on this
On Deputy Nolan’s question, I saw the footage the other day. It was very upsetting to think anyone would treat an innocent animal such as a donkey in that way and then take pleasure in videoing it and putting it online. It was appalling. I agree we need to step up enforcement when it comes to dogs and dangerous dog laws as well as the wider issue of animal welfare, which the Deputy raised. I will certainly take that up with my colleagues.
In response to Deputy McNamara’s question, I have not seen the outcome of that review. I have been told the decision to bring stable patients to Ennis Hospital rather than to the main emergency department in Limerick has made a difference. It is a small difference-----
Comment on this
-----but it has made a difference, and I think it is the right thing to do. I agree that if Ennis is to take more patients, even if they are stable patients, it will need the resources to do that. Otherwise, it will just move the problem to somewhere else, and we do not want that to happen.