To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs how proposals within his Animal Welfare Pathway 2025-27 will benefit pets and their owners.

The Animal Welfare Pathway sets out a range of practical interventions that I intend to bring forward within the lifetime of this Assembly mandate, to help strengthen our current welfare legislation, and to ensure that there are robust initiatives in place, so our beloved pets can receive the care needed for a high quality of life.

I am confident that the proposals within the Pathway, which were developed through engagement with key stakeholders in animal welfare, including the Northern Ireland Companion Animal Welfare Group (NICAWG), will facilitate and deliver improvements to the lives of companion animals throughout Northern Ireland.

The proposals include consideration of the evidence on prohibition of aversive training devices, in particular shock collars, enhancements to microchipping requirements, exploration of mandatory cat microchipping, and development of an Animal Welfare and Responsible Dog Ownership Campaign.

Work is already underway on a number of reforms, including the recruitment of an Expert Advisory Group to review dog breeding regulations, and the launch of a public consultation on the proposed new rules for the sale and supply of puppies and kittens.