To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs to outline the work of his Department to prevent puppy trafficking to Northern Ireland.

Mr Muir

With your permission, Mr Speaker, I will answer questions 4 and 14 together. My Department created the Paws for Thought multi-agency group in 2020 to coordinate the actions of relevant statutory agencies here in order to disrupt the trafficking of low-welfare pups. The group comprises representatives from the police; HMRC; councils; Belfast Harbour Police; ferry companies; and officials from my Department. Through that group, it has been possible to target individuals who are known to move consignments of low-welfare pups to Great Britain through ferry terminals. That joined-up working has resulted in a significant number of seizures of pups and the criminal convictions of those who are involved. In addition to the targeted checks, follow-up activities are carried out to identify potential illegal breeding sites. As well as pups that have been illegally bred in Northern Ireland, my Department and its partner agencies remain aware that pups are being moved illegally from unlicensed breeding establishments in the Republic of Ireland to domestic premises in Northern Ireland. There is, therefore, regular liaison between DAERA officials and their Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine counterparts to consider the detection of illegal trading of pups in both jurisdictions. A Paws for Thought public-facing awareness campaign is ongoing to highlight the role that everyone has to play in tackling puppy smuggling. Increased communications are planned in the lead-up to Christmas, a time when there is usually an increased demand, in a bid to raise awareness of that abhorrent, illegal trade and to ensure that potential owners source pups responsibly.

Mr Beattie

Thank you, Minister. It is good that you have recognised the fact that there is a trade coming from the Irish Republic into Northern Ireland and then onwards to Great Britain. Lucy's law, which is already being used in a part of the United Kingdom — England — is making a real dent on puppy and kitten trafficking. The Minister said he was going to look into Lucy's law. Will he give us an update on whether we will look at that?

Mr Muir

I thank the Member for his question. It is really an abhorrent trade. I was in Larne a few weeks ago to see the work of the multi-agency approach. Some of the stuff that I heard was shocking, including the story of an attempt to smuggle pups that were hidden under garden waste through the port. That is wrong. We need to ensure that the public is made aware of it so that no one ever participates in or facilitates it, because it is absolutely despicable.

I have given a commitment to bring forward Lucy's law, so I will do that. It is key that we bring forward that legislation. What is more, I am engaging with animal welfare stakeholders in the short time ahead to discuss the wider issue of animal welfare and what else we can do on that. One of the key issues that will affect what I can do to tackle animal cruelty is the budget settlement that I get for next year. I need staff resources to bring forward legislation, whether it is secondary or primary legislation, to deal with that issue, which is a stain on our society.

Mr Muir

It was good to be in Larne. I got a warm welcome. I really commend the multi-agency work that is being done on this. It is an example of what we can and should do to deal with those issues. It is absolutely critical. What I have seen is that there has been a real deterrent effect as a result of the work that is being undertaken. It has also given us the information for HMRC, especially, to follow up and take action on that. That has proven to be extremely effective. If people want more information on that or publicity materials that they can share, I encourage them to contact me. I can provide that.

Miss Brogan

Can the Minister outline the role that the Paws for Thought multi-agency group will play in coordinating efforts between stakeholders to address different animal welfare issues?

Mr Muir

It is absolutely key, because it is sharing not only intelligence but ways in which to promote the efforts that it is making on that. That is why I want to engage with animal welfare stakeholders to see how much more we can bring them on board with what we are doing, because we need to be able to work together to tackle those issues. It is not just about puppy smuggling; we need to work together on a number of other issues. As I said, the key issue is how much funding I will get to enable me to support that in the time ahead.