The joys of a continental holiday are set to become the prerogative not just of Irish man but, soon, his four-legged friends. And an Irish Commissioner will be reunited with his two dogs.
European Commission will today approve a proposal for mutual EU recognition of passports for pets which should allow free mobility throughout the Union for tagged pets with rabies vaccination certificates.
This will mean an end to the current transitional requirement that pets coming to Ireland be cleared through, and must therefore pass through, the British system.
The harmonisation of Irish and British standards for electronic tagging or tattooing of animals for identification to other EU member-states should also simplify the tasks faced by travellers.
The proposals, brought forward by the Health and Consumer Affairs Commissioner, Mr David Byrne, have to be approved by member-states and MEPs.
Mr Byrne said he looked forward to far easier travel with his own dogs, and was "sure these harmonised rules will make travel and holidays abroad much more attractive for those citizens who don't like leaving their cats and dogs behind. They will remove one of the last major barriers to the free movement of not only pets but also of their owners".
Under the proposals, however, the Irish and British authorities may still require additional antibodies testing for pets entering both countries. These must be done in authorised EU laboratories more than six months prior to travel and more than 30 days after vaccination.
But pets will still be able to travel freely between the two countries.
