To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs what investigation has his Department undertaken regarding animal welfare breaches at the Ballymena Livestock Market.

DAERA inspectors undertake a programme of inspections of Livestock Markets in Northern Ireland. These inspections focus on animal welfare, animal identification and biosecurity. The frequency of the inspections are determined by the throughput of the individual markets and the history of compliance at past inspections.

Two unannounced inspections carried out by Departmental inspectors at Ballymena Livestock Market in September 2017 uncovered non-compliances with animal welfare legislation and a warning letter was issued. Since then there have been almost 50 further unannounced inspections by Departmental inspectors, with the vast majority compliant. However at an inspection in September 2021 and at a separate inspection in October 2021, inspectors uncovered non-compliances which merited a warning letter on each occasion.

Department inspectors continue to carry out unannounced inspections of Ballymena Livestock Market and the Department will take appropriate enforcement steps if further non-compliance is discovered.