23 new cases were referred to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) Investigations Division in 2025.

This compares to 26 new cases which were registered during 2024.

The division's focus is on "more complex cases" which may "threaten the department’s strategic goals" or where there is suspected criminal intent.

New investigations in 2025 related to breaches of legislation regarding animal identification, registration and movement, veterinary medicines, animal by-products, pesticides, fertilisers, animal welfare and public health.

An Garda Síochána supported the department for some of thesecases.

The division's annual report shows that a significant focus for 2025 was on suspected animal welfare related breaches (9 cases) and suspected bovine identification, registration and movement breaches (7 cases).

The total number of active cases during 2025 was reported at 88.

The division closed 38 investigations in the year, 32 of which related to cases initiated in previous years.

43 investigations were ongoing at the end of the year and seven were awaiting a court hearing date in 2026.

The report outlined that "prosecutions are one aspect of the department’s enforcement approach to addressing non-compliance and are the strongest enforcement tool to deal with the most serious cases".

Last year, four files were sent to the Chief State Solicitors Office (CSSO) for summary prosecution, and one file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for Prosecution on indictment.

DAFM

In 2025, proceedings were concluded in relation to eight district court cases which arose from investigations involving the division.

In seven of the eight cases the defendants either pleaded guilty or were found guilty after a trial on some or all the charges brought before the court.

Costs were awarded to the department in these cases.

The report said that one summary prosecution case was withdrawn based on legal advice.

A Circuit Court prosecution, arising from a file sent to the DPP in 2023, was withdrawn arising from the death of the accused party.

Sanctions handed down by the courts in 2025 included a suspended prison sentence, disqualification from holding animals, fines ranging from €300 to €7,000, and the application of the Probation Act (strike out of a conviction applying in lieu of a charitable donation).

Appeals

Appeals in relation to three compliance notices related to cases involving Investigations Division were heard before the courts in 2025.

Proceedings concluded in two of these appeals in 2025, with the courts ruling in favour of the department. The other appeal has continued into 2026.

The Investigations Division core staff comprised an 11-person multi-disciplinary team at the end of 2025, with eight being investigators.

During 2025, a fourth veterinary inspector was assigned to the division.