asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware of the losses being suffered by farmers through dogs attacking and killing sheep and lambs; and if he will take effective measures to deal with this menace.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Control of Dogs.
46.
A special instruction was issued to the Garda Síochána in regard to this matter within the last year and I am informed by them that, despite the fact that there have been some notorious incidents, preventive action taken by them, in co-operation with farmers, has been very successful.
The greatest problem arises in the vicinity of large built-up areas where an offending dog, even if seen at fairly close quarters, often cannot be recognised or identified as to its owner. Even if actually shot dead or captured, this particular difficulty is not always overcome though the proposal to require dogs to have identity tags, as announced by the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, should assist in these cases and should also make some dog-owners more careful than they are now.
I should perhaps add that, in the experience of the Garda Síochána, many farmers who suffer loss will not give evidence to support a prosecution as it frequently turns out that the dog-owner is somebody known to them who had no suspicion that his dog was responsible.