Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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594. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he plans to introduce an e-passport for the identification of equines (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45816/22]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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Article 20(2) of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/963 provides that Member States may authorise the use e-passports for the purpose of the identification of equine animals during day-to-day movements within their own territories, to other member States in particular circumstances and to third countries which have authorised such identification.

An e-passport may be used to supplement the associated physical equine identification document but cannot replace it. The paper identification document remains the definitive mechanism for identifying an equine animal. The identification data recorded on the e-passport must be the same as that recorded on the paper passport - and both sets of data must be up-to date at all times

It is my intention to authorise the use of e-passports in accordance with the provisions of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/962. In this regard, officials in my Department are currently drafting an official standard for e-passports which it is proposed to circulate to approved Passport Issuing Organisations in the coming weeks.