Paul Murphy on Dublin Zoo zebra shooting and welfare concerns
Paul Murphy raised concerns about animal welfare at Dublin Zoo, alleging a zebra was shot dead and calling for a new independent investigation. He argued the animal was euthanised with a gun rather than by a vet with an injection, and questioned the zoo's practices and oversight.
Allegation about zebra shooting
Murphy said a zebra at Dublin Zoo was shot dead with a gun last week and was not euthanised by a vet with an injection - the usual practice in zoos around the world. He stressed the zebra was not in circumstances suggesting an immediate danger to the public.
Calls for independent investigation
He called for a fresh independent inquiry into Dublin Zoo, citing protected disclosures and allegations previously raised in the Dáil and the Seanad. Murphy also questioned the involvement of MSS services at the zoo and their links to the Ashton Pound.
State oversight and prior inquiries
Murphy noted that the NPWS has conducted an investigation and highlighted that Dublin Zoo, while independently run, receives state funding. He referenced commitments in the Programme for Government to improve animal welfare standards, including prioritising equine welfare and a robust traceability system.
Government response requested
In reply, the minister described the situation as very serious, asked for a report from the relevant department and said animal welfare is taken extraordinarily seriously. The minister said they were 'utterly horrified' by the prime time revelations and want a full comprehensive report on actions to be taken at Irish and EU level.
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Thanks, last Ken Corla. I had a look again through the Programme for Government, and actually I struck there's quite a few commitments in the Programme for Government to, quote, improve animal welfare standards. There's even a line there which talks about prioritising equine welfare based on a robust traceability system, which would certainly raise eyebrows after last week's RT investigates. But in any case, I want to focus here on the issue of Dublin Zoo, which I have raised previously, and which I think there's evidence to suggest continues to fall below appropriate animal welfare standards. There have been protected disclosures, there have been allegations raised in the Dáil, in the Seanad, there's been an investigation by the NPWS. But I understand that last week a zebra in the zoo was shot dead with a gun. It was euthanised with a gun as opposed to with an injection, which would be the appropriate normal thing that happens in zoos around the world. It was not done by a vet, which again, a vet is the only person licensed to do it. It isn't a circumstance where the zebra was willing to go to the wild and endangering people or something like that. I think there's a serious question there. I think there are other serious questions in terms of the zoo. It's a question which has never been looked at in terms of the involvement of MSS services at Dublin Zoo, who are also involved in the notorious Ashton Pound, where there's all sorts of abuse of dogs and so on. So I would ask, I think a new independent investigation is needed into what's happening in Dublin Zoo. Thank you very much, Deputy Murphy. I'm not aware of that situation, but it's a very serious situation to raise. So let me ask for a report from the relevant department in relation to that. I know that Dublin Zoo is independent run, but indeed it receives funding from the state. So let me check. I take animal welfare extraordinarily seriously. I was utterly horrified by the revelations in prime time last week and want to receive a full comprehensive report on the actions that will now be taken both at an Irish level and an EU level in relation to those situations.
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