Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein)
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845. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to end the process of egg production using caged hens; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44707/24]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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EU Directive 1999/74/EC sets out specific requirements for the protection of laying hens in the EU and this legislation is transposed into Irish legislation by S.I. 311 of 2010. The legislation specifies the type of accommodation that can be used for laying hens and this includes the use of cage production systems that are enriched with features such as nests, perches and scratch areas.

The EU Commission has undertaken to review all of the EU legislation on animal welfare including the laying hen Directive. We await the outcome of that review and will implement any changes to the provisions for laying hen’s accommodation as appropriate.