Minister snubs Ireland’s animal welfare group

THE agriculture minister, Joe Walsh, has been quoted recently as saying that the setting up of a new committee to advise on animal health and welfare issues combined with his establishment of a Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Council (FAWAC) reflects his own and his department’s commitment to dealing effectively and transparently with animal health and welfare issues.

I would point out that whilst Compassion in World Farming is represented on the FAWAC, we still cannot meet the minister in person. According to his latest rejection, we can make our views known “without the necessity of a meeting”.

This is despite the fact that we are the only campaigning group in Ireland dealing solely with farm animal welfare and we have been requesting a meeting since 1992. Furthermore, although the formation of the FAWAC was announced in February, it still has not actually met. The representatives have had no correspondence whatsoever regarding how this body will operate or when it will finally meet.