STATEMENT FROM CHAIRMAN

It is a pleasure to present a statement, as Chairman of the, Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Council (FAWAC).
Since its establishment in 2002, FAWAC has become recognised for its crucial role in promoting animal welfare. FAWAC brings together a diverse range of interests and enables representatives from different backgrounds to exchange views, and seek consensus on various issues and developments relevant to the care of farm animals. FAWAC provides considerable useful advice to the Minister and has been particularly successful in publishing a series of guidelines on such diverse areas as dairy and beef farming, horses, ponies and donkeys, electro-immobilisation, best practice during transport and the code of practice on broiler chickens.

I would like to express my appreciation to the present Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith TD, and his predecessor Mary Coughlan TD, for their endeavours to enhance good Animal Welfare practices among the community.

The Minister is fully committed to promoting good practices that respect the welfare of all animals. In this connection the Department is progressing a number of animal welfare related commitments from the Programme for Government including consolidation of responsibility for the welfare of all animals (including non-farm animals) within the Department and the introduction of a comprehensive Animal Health and Welfare Bill to update existing welfare legislation to protect the welfare of animals. FAWAC considers the Animal Health and Welfare Bill to be a great advance on the present legislative framework.

FAWAC is cognisant of the importance of research in farm animal welfare, and FAWAC works closely with relevant public bodies, organisations, individuals and companies. These linkages are vital to FAWAC in delivering its programme. Effective communication with stakeholders is also essential in the delivery of animal welfare issues. To this end I would like to thank all parties involved.

I am very grateful to all our members of FAWAC for their considerable support and co-operation. I would also like to extend my sincere gratitude to those who made presentations to FAWAC throughout the year. Their presentations greatly enhanced the work of FAWAC.

Ag súil go mbeidh dea-thoradh ar ár gcuid oibre amach anseo.

Professor Patrick Fottrell
Chairman
October 2008