asked the Minister for Justice if he will make regulations regarding guard dogs and require that a licence be held for their use commercially.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Guard Dog Regulations.
50.
I have no power to make regulations of the kind suggested or to introduce a licensing system for the commercial use of guard dogs.
Will the Minister consider introducing legislation and taking power?
There are a number of technical reasons why I could not. I do not propose to take power.
Surely the Minister realises that there are some very respectable agencies which have properly trained dogs and people who know how to handle them, whereas there are other people, who, just for the sake of trying to make a "quick buck" are letting out dogs which are not properly trained? We have had some tragic cases of savaging by these dogs in recent times.
I agree that there have been unfortunate cases where children have been savaged by these dogs. The difficulty with regard to legislation would be that there would be a question of definition. I would not rule out the prospect of legislation entirely, but I would say that it poses difficulties and at the present moment in spite of the specific instances referred to by the Deputy I do not think the position is such as to warrant legislation.
Has the Minister been made aware of any reports regarding the use of such dogs to menace people at night in the city?
I have not been made aware of any such reports.