131. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of veterinary inspections carried out in 2025 specifically to observe poultry catching and loading (details supplied); if he is unable to provide this data, his reason for the lack of information, given that catching and loading is a particularly stressful event for hens; and the reason data on the effectiveness of stunning before slaughter is not collated. [67410/26]

The trade in and export of live animals including poultry is a private commercial activity that is regulated by my Department in accordance with EU and National Regulations. Relevant Regulations for this sector include Council Regulation (EC) No. 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport and associated national implementing Regulation S.I. No. 675/2006 European Communities (Animal Transport and Control Post). Information collated by my Department indicates that three official controls relating to animal welfare during transport for poultry were carried out in 2025.

All poultry being transported for export are subjected to a veterinary health inspection within five days of being loaded and transported, 862 such inspections were carried out by my Department in 2025.

Regarding the effectiveness of stunning at the time of slaughter, this process is also regulated by my Department in accordance with EU and National Regulations Relevant Regulations for this sector include Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 on the Protection of Animals at the Time of Killing and associated national implementing Regulation S.I. No. 292/2013 - European Union (Protection of Animals at the Time of Killing) Regulations 2013. These Regulations requires animals to be stunned (rendered unconscious) before they are slaughtered, with an exception for the slaughter of animals as prescribed by religious rites.

My Department is responsible for implementation and enforcement of the above Regulations. Slaughter plant owners must have Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) specific to their plant in place to ensure they comply with all aspects of the legislation. Their staff must also have training and hold certificates of competences for the various operations associated with the slaughter process including stunning of animals.  The slaughtering of animals in Department-approved facilities is supervised by my Department to ensure protocols are followed and stunning of animals is carried out effectively. My Department is also required to verify the effectiveness of stunning at least three times daily. This data is not collated centrally, as regional and local management of compliance is considered to be more effective.