Confusing rules when taking a pet to Ireland!

From the 1st January 2012 the rules regarding pet travel from the UK to Ireland changed, the following information has been taken from the DEFRA website:

(3) Under the EU pet movement system, all pet dogs, cats and ferrets moving between EU Member States must meet the same animal health rules. From 1January 2012 the requirement is that all pets travelling from the Republic of Ireland to the UK should be microchipped, vaccinated against rabies and accompanied by a pet passport.

As both the Republic of Ireland and the UK have had no indigenous rabies for many decades, compliance checks on pets travelling between the two countries will not be applied. Pet owners travelling with their pets should therefore not experience any change on the ground from the 1 January.

This advice does contradict itself, as DEFRA and the EU are saying you need a passport, but no-one will be checking it. Irish Ferries have confirmed that they are making no changes to their procedures and they will not be checking for a passport or any pet documentation on routes between the UK and Ireland. We are waiting for Stena Line and P & O Irish to comment.

Are you planngin a trip to Ireland with your dog? Will you get a pet passport?

Looking forward to some feedback!