Politician(s) lobbied: Paul Lawless (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas
Intent: To raise NSPCA concerns about Equine ID & Traceability
Methods: Email
Details by Method
Method not specified
Submitted questions on equine passports to DPO for Joint Oireachtas Committee meeting on Agriculture discussing Horse Passports and Canine Microchipping. DPO did not raise any of the questions that we submitted to him that day
Politician(s) lobbied: Máire Devine (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Mark Ward (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Aengus Ó Snodaigh (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Chris Andrews (Senator), Seanad
Intent: To explore the current issues around lack of regulation in this industry in Dublin & how to progress legislative review.
Methods: Meeting
Details by Method
Method not specified
Private meeting / stakeholder discussion organised by DPO at Leinster House
Method not specified
Dublin. Purpose of meeting to discuss the lack of regulation of horse-drawn carriages in Dublin and current issues affecting the industry
Method not specified
animal welfare & public safety.
Politician(s) lobbied: AnnMarie Farrelly (Chief Executive Officer), Fingal County Council
Intent: The urgent need for Fingal County Council to integrate a clear, enforceable, and welfare-led equine management strategy into the development process.
Methods: Submission
Details by Method
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Submission to Fingal County Council’s public consultation on the planned rezoning of 1
Method not specified
000 acres of land in Dunsink
Method not specified
including Dunsink landfill being rezoned for park & recreational facitilities. Submission raised NSPCA concerns for the welfare of the approximate 130 equines that have grazed on the landfill for over 60 years and the need for a welfare led strategy to ensure that the welfare of horses on its land is fully addressed as an integral part of the proposed development.
Politician(s) lobbied: June Fanning (Chief Veterinary Officer), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; James Choiseul (Head of Agricultural Laboratories), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Eoin Ryan (Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Lorna Meaney (Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Intent: Ireland to support an EU ban on fur farming
Methods: Email
Details by Method
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Email to DPO regarding support for the Eurogroup for Animals campaign for an EU-wide ban on fur farming & to raise our concerns about the European Commission upcoming announcements on its final response to the ECI Fur Free Europe. And to ask Ireland to support a ban on fur farming at the meeting of all CVO’s from Member States on 12.03.2026
Politician(s) lobbied: Darragh O'Brien (Minister), Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment
Intent: To highlight the serious concerns for animal welfare, public safety & lack of regulation in this horse drawn carriage industry in Dublin. To request meeting with Minister O’Brien.
Methods: Email
Details by Method
Method not specified
Sent email with copy of letter to DPO outlining NSPCA’s concerns over lack of regulation of horse drawn carriage industry in Dublin
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the need to progress legislation & request for meeting with Minister for Transport.
Politician(s) lobbied: Martin Heydon (Minister of State), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Intent: Meeting with Minister Heydon to outline our concerns about the equine welfare issues on Dunsink landfill, the planned rezoning and proposals from NSPCA to ensure that planning decisions are welfare led.
Methods: Email
Details by Method
Method not specified
Sent email with letter attached to DPO to outline our serious & ongoing concerns regarding urgent equine welfare issues at Dunsink landfill
Method not specified
Fingal. And to request a meeting with Minister Heydon to discuss same.
Politician(s) lobbied: Martin Heydon (Minister of State), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; June Fanning (Chief Veterinary Officer), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Eoin Ryan (Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine; Lorna Meaney (Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Intent: Ireland to support the Council Resolution on fur farming and call on the Commission to effectively propose a ban on the practice and on the placing of farmed fur products on the EU market
Methods: Email
Details by Method
Method not specified
Sent email to DPO supporting the Eurogroup for Animals campaign for an EU-wide ban on fur farming. The communication related to the forthcoming European Commission Communication on fur farming and Austria’s proposed Council Resolution at AGRIFISH. Urged Ireland to support coordinated EU action to prohibit fur farming and ban the placing of farmed fur products on the EU market.
Politician(s) lobbied: Pat the Cope Gallagher (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Barry Heneghan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Ivana Bacik (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Chris Andrews (Senator), Seanad; Robert O'Donoghue (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Jen Cummins (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Roderic O'Gorman (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Danny Healy-Rae (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Naoise O'Cearúil (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Aubrey McCarthy (Senator), Seanad; Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Réada Cronin (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Mark Wall (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Erin McGreehan (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Kiera Keogh (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Eamon Scanlon (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Marian Harkin (Minister of State), Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science; Jennifer Whitmore (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Laura Harmon (Senator), Seanad; Nessa Cosgrove (Senator), Seanad; Malcolm Noonan (Senator), Seanad; Patricia Stephenson (Senator), Seanad; Maria Byrne (Senator), Seanad; Sharon Keogan (Senator), Seanad; Robbie Gallagher (Senator), Seanad; Gayle Ralph (Councillor), Dublin City Council; Eoin Ryan (Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Intent: Legislative review & stronger regulations in the following areas; dog breeding, horse drawn vehicles in cities & towns, sulky horse use, fox hunting & greyhound racing
Methods: Event / Reception
Details by Method
Method not specified
NSPCA launch of its 5-year strategy on Wednesday
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aimed at strengthening laws on dog breeding
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horse-drawn vehicles in cities & towns
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ban on for sulky racing on public roads
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banning fox hunting for sport and banning greyhound racing in Ireland
Politician(s) lobbied: Micheál Martin (Taoiseach), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Simon Harris (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Mary Lou McDonald (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas; Ivana Bacik (TD), Dáil Éireann, the Oireachtas
Intent: Successful vote to introduce Fox Hunting ban in Ireland.
Methods: Email
Details by Method
Method not specified
Sent emails on behalf of the NSPCA to local TDs to urge them to vote in favour of the bill on the matter of the Animal Health & Welfare (Ban On Fox Hunting) Bill. It will be returning to Dail Eireann for the second stage debate and vote on Wednesday 17th December 2025.
Politician(s) lobbied: Martin Heydon (Minister), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
Intent: Stronger EU regulations for Dogs & Cats that would encompass the following. 1. Identify and register all dogs and cats; 2. Use this Regulation as an opening for the future rules on other species that can be kept and placed on the EU market; 3. Conduct analysis and provide future safeguards for any exempted animal categories or sectors.
Methods: Letter
Details by Method
Method not specified
Co-signed open letter from Eurogroup for Animals to urge EU leaders including the Commissioner
Method not specified
Members of the European Parliament
Method not specified
Council Presidency and national Ministers
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to act now and strengthen the Regulation on the welfare and traceability of dogs and cats
