To ask the Minister of Justice (i) for her assessment of the current legislation which imposes duties on drivers who injure certain animals, for example dogs, on roads or public places, but does not extend to private land; and (ii) whether causing unnecessary suffering to an animal, as an offence, covers injury through driving on private land.

The Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 places responsibilities on drivers on the occurrence of accidents causing injury to certain animals.

The Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011 (the Act) sets out the offence of unnecessary suffering to animals, caused by any action or inaction which causes physical or mental suffering to an animal. The suffering is deemed to be unnecessary if it could have been reasonably avoided, terminated or reduced.

The Act does not define specific actions or places which would result in an offence being committed. It is up to the investigating body to determine whether an offence has occurred.

My Department is not responsible for either the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 or the Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011. Any assessments of these policies would be a matter for the relevant Department.