I welcome the Minister for Agriculture, Deputy Charlie McConalogue.
Animal Health and Welfare (Dogs) Bill 2022: Committee Stage
Question proposed: "That section 1 stand part of the Bill."
Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. I want to set the context of the nature of this Bill. I will speak to section 1. Yesterday was World Animal Day. Unfortunately, in the past 48 hours we have seen two very damning reports regarding the situation relating to dog rescue centres and pounds. MADRA Dog Rescue did a census of dogs, the first that has ever been compiled, and found that there are 3,227 homeless dogs at the moment, with hundreds more on lists waiting to be surrendered. The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, ISPCA, released the findings of a survey carried out by Amárach Research, which indicates that there have been unprecedented levels of abandonment of pets in the country post Covid. That comes as no surprise to those who have been following this matter because rescuers were screaming and shouting that they could not handle the number of dogs that were coming into them over the past year.
Statistics released in August again confirmed what the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, ISPCA, is telling us, which is that there has been a 95% increase in the number of stray dogs entering the pounds. The figure is up from 4,165 in 2021 to 8,116 in 2022. Unfortunately, the euthanasia rates have also doubled from the all-time low we hit in 2021. While they are not back to those awful days when we were euthanising more than 1,000 dogs, the numbers are still going in the wrong direction.
I will provide context for the Bill we are bringing forward. Something that was identified by both the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, DSPCA, and the ISPCA, as a lacuna or a loop-hole in the law, is that when dogs are taken by the dog warden or are found straying, they taken under the Control of Dogs Act. They go into the pound and if the owner does not claim the dog within five days, those dogs are then rehomed and they are the ones that feature in that statistic where there has been a 95% increase. Those dogs then go off to rescues and are put up online for families to give them their forever homes. When dogs are seized under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 by the authorised officers, which of course is in the really horrific cases we see in the news, those puppies that are seized at ports and those dogs that are emaciated living in their own feces, unfortunately the animal has to be held as evidence until the legal case concludes unless the owner surrenders the dog. That can mean both puppies and older dogs, which have already had horrific experiences in their lives, being kept for up to two years in kennels. Due to the other situation with surrenders of dogs, what we are hearing now is that the likes of the ISPCA does not have the space to keep those dogs for the two years. What they are having to do is rent out private kennel space at a significant cost to the organisations so that they can free up the space in their shelter for those dogs that can be rehomed under the Control of Dogs Act.
That is the context to the Bill. If we get to the amendments, there are elements dealing with the costs and the recoupment of costs because the Animal Health and Welfare (Dogs) Bill allows for costs to be recouped in the legal proceedings by either the local authority or by the Minister's Department. I have put in parliamentary questions to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and there has not been any claim for the fees to be reimbursed to those rescues like the ISPCA and the DSPCA for footing the bill for the two years they have kept that animal, and neither have any of the local authorities ever applied for the reimbursement. There is an amendment, which we may get to later on, that addresses this so that the authorised authority can apply for the reimbursement as they are the ones bearing the costs.
As I said, that is the context to the Bill. I went through the list of some of dogs that have been seized on a regular basis. Some 17 animals were seized in Rosslare Port in May 2020; 57 puppies were smuggled over the Border in August 2022; 34 dogs were seized by a smuggler in July 2023; ten dogs were seized in Thurles in August 2023; 140 dogs were seized in north County Dublin in April 2021; a number of dogs were seized in Cork in March 2023; 19 dogs were seized in County Limerick in January 2023; a number of dogs and pups were seized in Clonmel in August 2023; and six dogs were seized in County Sligo in February 2023. None of those dogs can be rehomed until the legal cases have been concluded and that is just a snapshot of what we are dealing with.
Moving on to section 1 of the Bill, I was interested to find a study by the Veterinary Council of Ireland which backs up why I am trying to do within section 1 of the Bill, namely, the importance of the accurate data in estimating the dog population of Ireland. Section 1 amends the dog licensing system. What the Veterinary Council of Ireland in the Veterinary Ireland Journal study of 2022 stated that the linking of existing national databases, dog licence, dog control statistics, and microchipping would improve the representativeness and the accuracy of the information about the Irish pet dog population because we have never had an official census of the dog population of Ireland. It found that accurate information would allow for informed decision-making by both Governments and dog-welfare organisations and it would facilitate the Government in policy making and reviewing legislation and whether it is fit for purpose. The Veterinary Council of Ireland also pointed to other countries that have made huge strides in building a robust data collection and a solid evidence base. One of the countries cited is Italy where they have taken a focus on compliance of the legislation and it has led to a compliance rate of about 75%. The study also noted there were equivalent rates then of neutering and regular vet visits. Therefore, there are knock-on impacts if we enforce the legislation; it has positive impacts on the welfare of the dog.
According to the most recent control of dogs statistics 2022, there was a purchase of 198,116 dog licences in the country, the majority of which were individual yearly licences. While there has been an increase on lifetime licences, the vast majority of people buy a licence year to year. If we look at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine figures, it cites over 100,000 dogs being microchipped in Ireland every single year. Given that dogs can live for anything between ten to 18 years, it is clear that more dogs are being microchipped than are being licensed. Finbarr Heslin, the founder of fido.ie, one of the country's robust microchipping systems in the country, reckons there is approximately one million dogs in the country. He says obviously greyhounds account for some of those but that number far outweighs the 198,000 licences being purchased in the country. We know the microchipping rates are going in the right direction but many dogs are still being seized and being found straying without those microchips or with accurate data on the chip. It is often still in the name of the seller of the dog, who of course say they do not have the record of the buyer so we need to tighten up on that. As I said, section 1 of this Bill seeks to improve traceability by linking the dog licence to the microchip. The current mechanism for obtaining a dog licence means it is optional for the microchip number to be filled in and that is an easy technical fix. Everybody in this House would be familiar with a system when you are filling in a form online that you cannot progress, the system will not allow you to continue with the online form, unless all of the information is completed. It is a simple fix to do. If we are going to implement that, we cannot allow a system where people can say they could not fill in the licence form so they did not bother and that is why it has to be ramped up with enforcement on licensing.
I know the working group that looked at the control of dogs accepted that we need a minimum of 40 more dog wardens in the country. Even with the existing number it is very clear there is huge disparity across local authorities as to the enforcement of the dog licensing and dogs being under the control of their owner. We see that some counties have a very high rate of dog-licence purchase but they also have a very high rate of fine collection, whereas other counties are clearly doing very poorly. We need to look at that and ask those local authorities why their dog licence numbers and the numbers of fines they are issuing are so low. We also have an issue with the collection of fines. It is one thing to issue them but it is another if people are not paying them. Again, looking at the control of dogs statistics, legal costs are cited as a barrier to local authorities getting the fixed-notice fines to be paid but of the almost 1,700 fixed-charge notices issued in 2022, fewer than 900 of those were collected. I would argue 1,700 is a very small number in the first place. Anyone who is out and about will see dogs on the restricted breed lists without muzzles and not on leads. We know dog fouling is a huge issue for everybody in local authorities. If 1,700 covers all the range of infringements, including dog licensing, that speaks for itself but the fact that only 900 of those fines were collected is a significant problem. It means that local authorities are running a deficit in respect of their control of dogs responsibilities.
Back to my Bill, as I said, section 1 makes the links between the microchip and the licence but linking the microchip and licence together also facilitates greater traceability. If a dog was involved in an attack, it might make it easier to trace it back. It also allows for more information to be available to a local authority as to what the type of dogs are. It is important we get a view of the different types of breeds, what breeds are in different counties, how many restricted breeds are in certain areas, and that might determine where dog wardens are focused. In addition to that, it prevents rogue individuals taking a claim on very valuable dogs, which is something we have heard from both the ISPCA and the DSPCA. It happens when dogs have been seized, particularly at the ports. They are valuable pups.
There are individuals who get dog licences online - it is easy to do, as they do not need to have a dog with them or cite the microchip number to do it – and then walk in and claim the dogs. This is another feature that I am trying to change with the Bill.
Section 1 would tighten up the general dog licence, which is held by someone who keeps an unspecified number of dogs on the premises. The Minister has to agree that the current system is very loose. We do not know whether the dogs are changing throughout the year, what breeds are being kept and what number are being kept. Section 1 allows for more traceability. Section 1(b) would amend the Control of Dogs Act to require the holder of a general dog licence to update the local authority on the number of dogs being kept on the premises and the microchip numbers of those dogs. We will discuss the amendments later, but this is the rationale for the changes set out in section 1. It sets the context for why the Bill is so important and why it is urgent that we pass it. Every day we do not pass this legislation is another day that dogs sitting in kennels across the country cannot be rehomed simply because of this loophole.
Before moving on to the next speaker, I forgot to welcome the Minister, Deputy McConalogue. I thank him for attending to address this Private Members’ Bill.
I also welcome the Minister. I compliment Senator Boylan. We are both on the Joint Oireachtas of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, which has put a great deal of work into this Bill. Those of us who are rural farmers probably prioritise the livestock and crop side of things more whereas Senator Boylan has led from the front on dogs and animal welfare. She initiated a number of our hearings, which resulted in a good report that was published in 2022 and is available for anyone to read.
I compliment the Senator on bringing the Bill to this point and the amount of work she has put into it. That said, we need to scrutinise it a little more and take it in conjunction with the interdepartmental group on dogs that the Minister has set up. When the issues we deal with on a daily basis go outside the remit of a single Department, we know how complicated they can become and how many cracks can appear for them to fall through. In this instance, three Departments are involved. As such, I warmly welcome the Minister’s establishment of the interdepartmental group on dogs and I hope that he will have an opportunity during this debate to fill us in on what progress that group has made. It is better that the group’s recommendations marry with the Bill rather than one running ahead of the other before we know all the facts from both sides.
I welcome much of what is in the Senator’s Bill as regards what we see in daily life – dogs in families or in other homes being treated cruelly and needing to be rehomed. One of the main issues when someone who, with the best intentions in the world, lets his or her good nature come to the top and almost instinctively acquires a dog as a pet from a pound in the belief that he or she is doing a good deed is a lack of knowledge of what is being taken on. There needs to be awareness among and education for those who will eventually home dogs about what that entails. We have all seen instances of well-intentioned people falling for an adorable, cuddly, little labrador puppy without thinking of 365 days later when their house may no longer be suitable for a dog that is now the size of a small calf. People need to be made aware that they need to think these things through. As with many issues, education and awareness might not be the silver bullet, but they are certainly a good starting point. This point needs to be incorporated into the Bill and whatever the Minister devises through the interdepartmental group.
The correlation of microchip databases is a major issue. Progress needs to be made on this so that all dogs are microchipped and can be traced back to their owners. We hear of many cases, and see so many posts on Facebook, about families who are desperate over their dogs going missing and not being seen for 24 hours and pleading to get them back. If the dog is impounded as a stray or is found by someone else, there is often no way of making the connection unless people are on what I call the dreaded Facebook or wherever they can see the post. The warden has the dog, the family is grieving at the dog’s loss and, if the warden is not a Facebook fanatic, there is no way for him or her to make the connection unless someone else does so. Until such time as every dog is microchipped and every microchip is accessible on a single database, we will have a problem. This needs to be another starting point.
I have a major issue with the classification of breeds. This has to do with the education and awareness of owners. Some owners can be taken in by the classification of dogs in terms of how dangerous they are and opt instead for a little poodle, whose classification implies it will do no harm to anyone. From an agricultural perspective, though, when it comes to sheep worrying, every dog, little or big, loves a chase. It is in dogs’ nature. Remember the story about the dog chasing the car. It is only when the dog catches the car that it realises it cannot drive. The situation with sheep is no different. When the chase and the excitement start, the little poodle will chase just like a bulldog or Alsatian. That dog is having fun chasing. This is why it is called “sheep worrying”. If those sheep are pregnant, that little poodle will do the same damage to the flock when the sheep end up jumping through fences, over drains and into rivers to get away from it. They are not playing – they are being chased – but the dog is. Our breed classifications can sometimes mislead people in this regard. They do not know that a dog loves a chase. Someone might say that his or her little dog would never chase anything, but if that dog got out and saw a little movement, it would be off after it. We need to get more educational information out there for owners to explain little matters like this and breed classification.
When discussing licensing previously, someone pointed out to me that you cannot get a driving licence without proving that you can drive a car. The person asked me why people did not have to do an induction course, be it online, a theory test or even a box-ticking exercise, before they could get a dog licence. It was a valid point. It would require a great deal of setting up, of course. Unfortunately, a puppy farmer or someone else who is into dogs for all the wrong reasons can go online in the morning right now and license a dog. The person’s intentions towards the dog and how that dog will be treated are not checked by anyone. The person does not even have to tick a box to show if he or she knows how often a dog needs to be walked, how much water a dog drinks or for how long a dog can be left without water. A course would create awareness. It would only be a stimulus, though. It does not have to be the case that the day will come when a genuine family are refused a dog because they failed the theory test. I am calling it a theory test in comparison with driving licences. We will always have problems when we throw things out like confetti. If people can easily get a licence online without needing to fill out any kind of information or show that they know what they are getting themselves into, there will be problems.
That is an area, again, going back to the education side of things, into which we need to put a little bit of thought and effort and a little bit of work.
The other issue goes back to where I started, which is the fact that we have so many different Departments involved. While we have Ministers and officials here from the Departments, at the end of the day it is the local authorities on the ground to which we will turn if there are issues with dogs. If a dog is roaming around a housing estate, it is the dog warden who is called. We need consistency there too, however. There are not the same pound facilities in the different local authority areas. There is not even the same availability of wardens. There are many counties in which there are no wardens at all. It does not seem to be a priority of county councils or local authorities. If the warden retires or is out, the same priority will not be put on replacing him or her or getting a new one as it would be if it were the roads engineer or litter warden because they are more visible. It does not seem to be a priority. It needs to filter down from Government to the local authorities that they need to have consistency. We have a role to play in that as Senators through our elected councillors. We can feed that awareness back down and try to have a little bit more consistency across the board in local authorities but also make it a priority within each local authority.
On the back of our deliberations at committee and from publishing the reports, a few people contacted me about issues pertaining to animal welfare and dogs in particular. It is amazing to consider all the side issues that are out there for genuine dog lovers and dog people who are really passionate about dog welfare. As far as people wondering whether we could do something to get a more structured pet cemetery set up, maybe that is a long way down the line. Our first and major priority has to be the welfare side of things. There are so many aspects to being a caring and loving dog owner that are not catered for out there. There are people with a genuine passion for how a dog should be treated even at the end of life in that there should be community or public pet cemetery facilities. While they do not all pertain to section 1 of the Bill, these are all issues we would love to be able to solve in our roles. There is loads of potential within the Bill but I will stress again that it must be done in conjunction with the findings of the interdepartmental group on dogs, the update of which I look forward to hearing from the Minister.
In conclusion, I compliment Senator Boylan and her colleagues for bringing this Bill to this Stage and initiating the debate. I look forward to working with them and, indeed, the three Departments and everybody involved who has a shared interest in animal welfare. I am a dog lover. I do not know if Senators can see in the distance, but the lad at home is shedding at the moment and I brought dog hairs to the debate this morning. He was not letting me go without saying goodbye. It only takes the slightest touch at this stage. The hairs are white too so people think I am shedding myself. I will leave it there for the minute. I look forward to engaging further as the debate progresses. As I said, I look forward to hearing the Minister's update on the interdepartmental group. I compliment Senator Boylan and her colleagues on bringing this Bill to this Stage.
I thank Senator Paul Daly very much. I call Senator Gavan.
I really welcome the opportunity to have this debate this morning. It is a topic that unites all of us in many ways. Anyone who has a dog will know that it kind of changes you afterwards in terms of how you see the world. I thank the Deputy Leader, in particular, because I know she gave the commitment that we would have a further hearing with regard to this Bill. I acknowledge that in the House today. I am guessing we will run out of time today but I am sure we will get another opportunity to move the Bill forward as well. I acknowledge the cross-party co-operation, which is something I think we are very good at here in the Seanad. That was alluded to last week when the Taoiseach was in the Chamber and I would thoroughly agree with that.
The timing for this Bill is quite good too because if Senators go into the supermarkets today, they will see that all the Christmas stuff is already out. Christmas is a time when, all too often, people decide to get pets without thoroughly thinking about it. Where I lived in County Clare, before I moved across the border back to Limerick, unfortunately on St. Stephen's Day or a few days later young pups were regularly left or dumped at the top of our estate. We all know it happens after every Christmas. As Senator Paul Daly rightly said, much of it is about education and explaining to people that there is a lot involved in taking care of dogs and giving them the care and attention they need and deserve. I am taken by the Senator's suggestion that some kind of preparation or education initiative should be required before we acquire a dog. The figures Senator Boylan highlighted earlier are quite shocking in terms of a doubling of the number of dogs going into pounds. We all know the context in terms of Covid-19 and so forth but that is why it is incumbent on us to take action on this issue.
It is significant that there has been such widespread support for Senator Boylan's Bill. I acknowledge her work in this regard. As Senator Paul Daly and others said, it is something about which she is incredibly passionate. However, I think all of us share that passion in terms of making sure our dogs and pups are well looked after and well kept. It is important to acknowledge that good work has been done in terms of legislation in recent years. While we are proposing legislative changes, I am not seeking to disparage the work of anybody or throw out the good work already done. Rather, this seeks to tighten up some lacunae and gaps that have emerged over the years that could not have been foreseen at its inception.
Before I go on to talk about the report of the working group on the control of dogs for a couple of minutes, I want to mention my family as a perfect example. We inherited a dog that otherwise would have faced life in a pound. We actually lost that dog this week. She had eight wonderful years with us and became an integral part of our family. I will be honest; at the time, I was a little sceptical about this. It just showed me how much dogs give back and the important role they play, particularly in terms of children but also to families and in uniting people and generally playing a key role.
The one message we should all embrace, and I think we do, is, "Adopt, don't shop". When we have that many dogs in pounds - the figure is more than 3,200 at the moment - if families are giving careful thought and still believe they want to get a dog at Christmas, there is no need to go out and buy one. There are wonderful dogs already available in our pounds desperately needing homes and a secure and loving future for themselves. If we can bring that message across today, that would be important.
I want to highlight the report of the working group on the control of dogs. I will not hog all the time because I know others want to come in. I welcome that report, which is very significant. I would like to briefly discuss some of its contents, especially because it commented so directly on provisions in the legislation we are debating this morning. The working group is made up of officials from the Departments of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and Rural and Community Development; representatives of the County and City Management Association, including representatives of local authority dog wardens and veterinary inspectors; and representatives of An Garda Síochána. Needless to say, there was a significant amount of experience in the room. Although the working group stopped short of endorsing the Sinn Féin Bill outright, it is particularly welcome that it went on to reflect favourably on the provisions of this Bill. The group met seven times before publishing its report. The working group met stakeholders, including the Irish Farmers Association, IFA, on the subject of sheep worrying. It also incorporated the good work of the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine report, Issues Impacting Dog Welfare in Ireland. I acknowledge the work of all the members of the committee including, of course, Senators Paul Daly and Boylan. Their recommendations and suggestions informed the discussions of the working group. Again, this is a serious report with input from multiple stakeholders so it should be treated accordingly.
Recommendation 4(b) of the working group report relates to the Control of Dogs Act. It is welcome that the working group recommended that the Government improve the legislation underpinning dog control. As part of the recommendation, the working group sought for the Government to specifically "Examine the proposal for dog licences to be linked to the relevant dog microchip number", a proposal that is contained in Senator Boylan's Bill.
This provision would tighten the position in the context of proof of ownership. Currently, there is a space on the dog licence form to enter a microchip number but this legislation would make it mandatory. The loophole can be exploited and could conceivably be used by somebody to claim a dog that was not theirs to claim. I would be grateful if the Minister could clarify, if he gets the opportunity, whether he agrees with this proposal from Senator Boylan and from the Government's working group.
I will mention one other recommendation. I have more to say but I may leave it and allow others to come in. The working group also made recommendations around improving traceability through the microchip legislation. Its report calls on the Government to provide for the seizure and disposal of dogs that are not microchipped and registered in accordance with the regulations by authorised officers. This was a key part of the legislation because, as Senator Boylan has heard from groups on the front line of the fight against puppy smuggling, such as the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, there are loopholes that are being exploited. By tightening up the traceability of dogs, we can help ensure more responsible dog ownership. There are more recommendations to go through but I will pause at this point to allow others to come in.
I very much welcome the Minister, who is here to discuss the Animal Health and Welfare (Dogs) Bill 2022. I thank our colleagues for bringing this forward. I grew up on a farm and around animals and I respect animals both large animals and small. I respect large animals because when you are in a field with a bull and cattle, you quickly understand that you are safe if you respect them. That is how you keep yourself safe. Farm safety has been a big thing. It s also a big thing within the Department and for the Minister of State, Deputy Heydon, and Teagasc.
We have small dogs, two Jack Russells. I am very sorry to hear about the loss of pets because it is like the loss of a family member sometimes. Families are left distraught altogether. Living on a farm, we always understood that dogs had to be kept in kennels at night-time. They always had to be under control and had to be fenced in at your house and within your garden. Fencing is always a great topic for farmers. It was crucial that responsibility was shown. Along with love for an animal comes responsibility. We sometimes see people not understanding that responsibility. That is why we sometimes see people taking a pet not for a lifetime, but for a short period. That is not good enough. Anyone who has a pet or who is a farmer has a love of animals and a respect for them. That empathy is part of what makes us who we are both in the farming community and as Irish people. Irish people have real empathy for animals. That is unique to our culture and our heritage.
We just had our October horse fair in Ballinasloe. It has been going for 300 years. It was absolutely stunning. We had temperatures of 18°C. The Minister will have to come down and see it very soon, although I know it is a bit of a hike down from Donegal. It was absolutely incredible. Thousands of people came to see stunning horses in our fair green. That festival has gone through generations of my family. Going with my family to see the fair is part of who we are. It is for the farming community in a rural town but also for our new communities and the many people who come to see the fair and see what it means. The fair is held over two weekends. This weekend, we are going to have our dog show. That was always a real point of interest. All the different breeds will come out. There has been an advent of dog shows across the country. We have them at the agricultural shows in Strokestown, Elphin, Roscommon and Mountbellew. In the west and across the remainder of the country, you see many people, not only those from farming backgrounds, bringing their pets and showing a lot of love. Many companies and businesses, such as, for example, Petmania, attend. It even extends to our very well-heeled shoppers. I was walking around Dundrum a month ago as a treat and there is a place you can leave your pet when you go shopping, which knocked me for six I must admit. They have everything out there. Of course, that is not to say we do not have it in the west as well.
What I would really like to highlight is the importance of dogs being kept in kennels and that responsibility. I know the Minister is working with the Ministers, Deputies Humphreys and O'Brien, on this issue. Locally, I have worked with the dog wardens in Galway County Council and we have seen challenges around the control of dogs, which have caused difficulties. I have had to make calls a number of times because I live close to the bogs. Many people go to the bogs, which are beautiful, to abandon their pets. Three or four times, I have picked up a pet when I have had to go to Dublin so I have knocked on my mum's door and asked if she could mind it while we get the dog warden to come out. The dog warden will then tell me that the kennels are full and that there is no space to take in the pet and ask if I can mind it for a day or two or three. What are we supposed to do? I know the Minister is working hard and fighting to get more dog wardens for local authorities.
MADRA Dog Rescue has a wonderful website. It is a Galway-based dog charity. I always love reading its stories in the Galway Advertiser. I have just looked it up on the website and the current story is about Maisie. Anyone out there who is looking at getting a pet should think about what it means to bring a pet that has been rescued into their home. If that is a possibility for a family, they should think about the opportunities and advantages associated with that.
The other part is about the linking the Minister has talked about. If he gets an opportunity to speak today or on the next occasion, he might speak about the databases, how we are using technology to support us and linking those databases. The dog licence comes from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine but it is the local authority that monitors it through the wardens and so on and it is very difficult to have those links. That is really what the Minister is now doing. He is building that through this group. It is great to see all of us working together on that.
Will the Minister give us an update on that interdepartmental group? What else does he see as the objectives arising? With this working group, the Minister is looking at enforcement at local authority level, the provision of dog wardens, which I have mentioned, microchipping and promoting responsible dog ownership and licences. There needs to be a little bit more support with regard to communications regarding managing and controlling dogs. We need to see investment in communications in that regard. We will get an opportunity to speak on this again. Other colleagues may like to come in. I will allow them to join us.
I acknowledge the fact that Senator Malcolm Byrne just left the Gallery with some world film producers. I know the significance of bringing people like that to Ireland with regard to Troy Studios in Limerick and the many other film studios. I just wanted to say those producers were welcome.
The Minister is welcome. I highly commend Senator Boylan on what she has done here. I have chaired a number of debates here at which she has raised this issue. Like many of my colleagues, including Senator Paul Daly, I can support a lot of what is in the Bill. It is really important to acknowledge that, in recent years, the Minister has announced record funding for animal rescue groups, 99 in total. In 2022, he allocated €5.8 million and, in 2021, €3.1 million. I acknowledge that, not in a political way, because they give us support and some safeguards with regard to what is going on out there. If we are to be honest, there are practices out there that nobody is happy about. As has already been stated, we in rural Ireland have a strong love of animals and do not like to see these unregulated puppy farms or abuse of animals whatsoever.
If you watch social media, you will know I am well-known for walking on the beautiful Sliabh Bawn near Strokestown with my four-legged friend, Lexi. She is a little Jack Russell who minds us all very well but is still a lovely animal. You may talk about other countries but there is a very close and genuine association between Irish people and their pets. They mean a lot to us. They also mean a lot to older people. Anything that can be done with regard to tightening up regulation, we should do and we should work on that together. Senator Gavan acknowledged the non-political aspect of this, which is really good. The Minister is very focused on this. Sometimes, because Ministers for Agriculture, Food and the Marine have such a huge brief, it is hard for them to keep tabs on everything but the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, has kept that focus. Animal welfare is a very good thing as well.
In the whole process of how we go through this, we should not be seen to lecture people. The vast majority of people who have pets look after them well and do the right thing. It is all about how we deliver the message and I am sure we will take that into consideration as the Bill moves forward. It might also be really good to engage more with all of our local authorities, and with councillors and prospective councillors. We are coming up to a local election. Apart from what we are doing here, this should really have been highlighted more on a county-by-county basis.
Again, one of the most destructive things we have seen down through the years is the bloody damage that dogs, even the nicest of pets, can do if they get loose around sheep. That is such a heartbreaking scenario for farmers, and for children in particular. I recall one incident down the country, which was maybe in Tipperary a few years ago, where there were two young lads. Some neighbour rang their father who was on his way to work 40 or 50 miles away. He rang his young lads, who if I can recall, might have been around 15 or 17. They went down to the farm and saw absolute destruction done on that farm by dogs. They cried over it, as people would. I have seen it myself, and it is one of the most heartbreaking things, the way sheep can be mauled by dogs. Let us face it, there is too much looseness around the scenario regarding dogs. We need to tighten that up but with all of these things, we need to bring people with us in the way we give this message. Again, I repeat that the vast majority of people love their animals.
I think that the Irish people would like a tightening up of the law on this. They will be very much in favour of it. They will be with it, and will very much support it. There may be aspects of how we do it on which they might ask us to table amendments. However, I really think Irish people would welcome this. I again commend the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, and will support him with my party in whatever way we can to progress this.
I welcome our guests, who are political staff from the House of Commons of Canada. We also have some guests from New Hampshire and New York, and guests of Deputy Chris Andrews. They are all very welcome to the Gallery today. Senator Regina Doherty is next.
I thank colleagues for affording me the few minutes to speak today. We have one dog at home. She is a goldendoodle, and she came from Wexford. As she was a little ball of red fluff when we got her - she was supposed to stay a little ball of red fluff - we called her Rua. She is now about 4 ft tall and has a tail that can only be described as a weapon of mass destruction. One would be having a glass of wine and the tail would come in and knock the glass. We love her to bits and she sits at the window waiting for us to come home, particularly the boys when they are gone to school or college. She is part of our family, and it is unfortunate to think and see how people do not love dogs the way people today have described how they love their dogs. It is a crime.
Skirting through the newspapers this morning, we have a Covid puppy boom, a tsunami of unwanted dogs, and cost-of-living abandonment that has soared by 73% since the Covid-19 pandemic. We have over 100 dogs abandoned per day, and in Wicklow, over one hour, there were apparently 16. Yet we are here going to wait for the perfect from the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, instead of taking what is incredibly good to fix the problems that we all know and that are available. I will ask, from a political perspective, for us not to wait for the perfect and that when the Minister brings this Bill to the Dáil, he can make the amendments that he wants to make. Right now we have thousands of people in this country whose dogs are not microchipped, do not even have a licence, and are being mistreated and abandoned. It is now that we need to do something, and not wait for the perfect.
I hate to cut Senator Doherty short but, as the Bill has now been debated for 45 minutes, the debate must now be adjourned in accordance with the order of the Seanad today.
Progress reported; Committee to sit again.
Cuireadh an Seanad ar athló ar 12.34 p.m. go dtí 11.30 a.m., Dé Máirt, an 10 Deireadh Fómhair 2023.
The Seanad adjourned at 12.34 p.m. until 11.30 a.m. on Tuesday, 10 October 2023.