2520. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when penguins at an aquarium (details supplied) will receive their vaccinations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55970/26]

My Department has been engaging with the establishment (details supplied) in recent months to ensure that any programme of vaccination for the captive birds there is undertaken in line with the relevant legislation governing the use of vaccination in poultry and captive birds.

Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/361 lays down specific rules to be implemented by Member States when using vaccination in poultry or captive birds to prevent or control highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). This regulation is designed to protect the poultry industries in Member States.

The regulation sets out requirements for licenced confined establishments in terms of surveillance, record keeping and movement controls that are a prerequisite for having captive birds vaccinated. This also entails monthly checks undertaken by my Department to ensure these requirements are being complied with. My Department continues to engage the establishment (details supplied) to ensure these requirements are put in place and that vaccination of captive birds there may commence in due course.

Additional information on HPAI can be found on the Government Website at: www.gov.ie/birdflu