The All-Party group on animal welfare met this afternoon for it's AGM and to discuss a plan for the year ahead.

Cllr Flynn said "I am delighted to sit on the Stormont all-party group for animal welfare as an observer member, to be able to put forward I and the Green Party's priorities for animal welfare."

Cllr Flynn continued "We want to see movement on animal welfare with the rest of this assembly mandate on issues such as Lucy's law, an issue on which I have campaigned for years, tougher legislation on breeding establishments, strengthening animal welfare standards and an animal welfare strategy for Northern Ireland."

"Northern Ireland has a terrible record when it comes to animal welfare standards and the illegal breeding of dogs and cats, we have a lot of work to do and plenty of regulation to bring to some of these industries which exploit animals, we must give councils and the police new powers of enforcement so that the public has confidence in our institutions to take the rights of animals seriously."

"We must use this opportunity for the rest of the assembly mandate to reaffirm our commitment to animal welfare."

ENDS

Note: Cllr Flynn will sit on the APG for animal welfare as a non-voting observer member.