Irelands cats and kittens have no protection or recognition under Irish law. The Irish Government class them as vermin, in the same category as mice and rats, offers them no protection and has no appointed Government department to take responsibility for them.  This has to change.  Cats also need to be included in the forthcoming Animal Welfare Bill.  

We, the undersigned, call on Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Enda Kenny, the Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney and the Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan to, as a matter of priority, enact legislation to protect cats in Ireland, to remove them from the vermin category and to include them in the forthcoming Animal Welfare Bill.  Also to make funds available to cat rescues in Ireland to enable them to carry out a free comprehensive trap/neuter/return programme for feral/stray/homeless cats in Ireland.