Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 October 2016
567. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to bring about a ban on aversive training devices for animals considering significant research indicating the physiological long term effects they pose to animals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30251/16]
View answerUnder the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 a person is prohibited from causing unnecessary pain or suffering or endangering the health and welfare of any animal. The Act also provides that a person having possession of an animal must ensure that the animal is kept in a manner that safeguards its health and welfare.
S.I. No. 108 of 2014 provides for a ban on electro-immobilisation by means of any electrical equipment of an instrument which applies a sustained electric current or impulse directly to a live animal. This legislation was originally enacted subsequent to a report to the Scientific Advisory Committee on Animal Health and Welfare which concluded that the use of electro-immobilisation causes distress and should be banned. Electrical stimulation or shock collars for training dogs are designed to produce stimuli lasting milliseconds rather than produce a sustained electric current.
If the Deputy is aware of any specific complaints relating to the welfare of animals arising from the use of these devices, he should bring them to my Department’s attention.
