To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs whether his Department has engaged with the Department of Justice to strengthen penalties for those involved in illegal dog breeding or animal cruelty.

I, along with officials from my Department and the Department of Justice, recently met with the USPCA, to discuss their recent report on animal welfare sentencing in Northern Ireland. My officials have also engaged with the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) to examine how animal welfare prosecutions are processed, particularly in relation to understanding the factors which determine the mode of trial.

The penalties available for animal welfare offences, under the Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011, do already afford a high degree of protection to animals. The maximum penalty available is five years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine. This is in line with other jurisdictions, and when introduced, were the most stringent across the UK.