Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 September 2018
76. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he is satisfied that the new dog breeding guidelines due to come into effect in January 2019 will be adequate to deal with the mistreatment and illegal sale of dogs here. [38566/18]
View answer89. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the steps he will take to enforce compliance by dog breeders with the recently published new dog breeding establishment guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38567/18]
View answerI welcome the Minister's publication of the new dog breeding guidelines as promised. There are many positive inclusions on the conditions in which dogs are kept, the environment, health and welfare record keeping and so on. However, the problem is that they are still only guidelines and it is up to individual breeders to take them on. There is a lack of sufficient enforcement by the local authorities. Given the public outcry over the "Panorama" programme on the Misty Meadow puppy farm in Cavan and the fact the council took no action in spite of the evidence, how can the Minister reassure us that the guidelines will make a difference?
I propose to take Questions Nos. 76 and 89 together.
I thank the Deputy for her continued interest in this important area. My Department published new guidelines for dog breeding establishments in July. These will come into effect on 1 January 2019.
I want to see the highest standards achieved by dog breeding establishments and these guidelines will help to do this. They form part of the framework within which local authorities carry out inspections and issue improvement notices, where required.
My Department developed these guidelines through consultation with both industry experts, including the Dublin Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals, the Irish Society for the Protection of Cruelty to Animals, and the veterinary sector, and the public. Some of the issues raised related to matters beyond the scope of the guidelines and they are now being considered as part of a wider review of the legislation.
It is important to bear in mind that the enforcement of animal welfare standards for all animals, including dogs, is a matter for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine under the Animal Health and Welfare Acts. Both Departments work closely with each other to ensure a co-ordinated approach is taken in this area. In this context, I understand that last May the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine launched a public consultation on a voluntary code of practice for pet shops and on the need for further legislation in relation to the advertising and sale of animals as pets.
Much co-ordination and consultation is ongoing between my Department and the veterinary section of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine as well as the local authorities, which fall within a third Department. This was something that was raised during the consultation, where people expressed the view that too many Departments were dealing with this issue, and I tend to agree. We discussed this with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine but we did not reach a conclusion in relation to changing the system.
Obviously, the local authorities are responsible for enforcement and the registration regime. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is responsible for animal welfare. The Department of Rural and Community Development is responsible for dog control and for legislation. There has been a substantial shift in the guidelines. Experts have emphasised the need to socialise pups by ensuring they experience the company of people before they are sold. There have been changes in staffing levels. As part of the move towards an increase in socialisation, pups spend more time enjoying human contact. This is important because it helps to aid their progression when they are purchased by a family with children or by an individual. We are examining the primary legislation and initiating public consultation on the list of restricted dog breeds. A number of changes have been suggested by the people involved. A number of incidents involving dogs that are not on the list of restricted dog breeds have taken place. Consideration will be given to whether there should be a change in policy so that we have a list of dangerous dogs rather than a list of dangerous breeds. This consultation will be initiated by the Department in the coming year.
The issue is whether the guidelines will improve the conditions in breeding establishments and have an impact on the sale of puppies. Our first concern relates to the local authorities' lack of ability to inspect premises properly, given that we are talking about criminal activity in some instances. The guidelines say that 24 hours' notice should be given, which means that those involved have a heads-up. Even though subsequent visits are unannounced, I do not think local authorities have enough resources to make unannounced visits.
Internet sales are particularly problematic. There were 126 dogs for sale on the Internet this morning. Illegal sales are continuing at an alarming rate. There were a number of tragic cases over the summer. In May, 27 puppies were found in Scotland in a van that originated in Ireland. In July, 16 puppies were found in a horse trailer in Galway. They all died afterwards. In August, over 100 dogs were rescued by the ISPCA. Earlier this month, a man was fined over €1,000 by the District Court after 37 dogs were seized from his farm. The only penalty he received was to be banned from having dogs for 18 months. He should not be allowed to have dogs ever again. Even though the number of convictions has increased, large profits are continuing to be made from this activity, which shows no sign of receding. I think we need to monitor it constantly. We need to do more.
I agree that there is a need for continued and improved monitoring. As I have said, the local authorities are responsible for that. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is considering whether there is a need for further legislation governing the advertisement and sale of pet animals, including pups.
The Deputy has highlighted some of the atrocious cases that have made the headlines in recent times, including a case in Galway. I commend the volunteer groups like Madra that did tremendous work to try to save as many pups as possible in those cases. We must recognise the difference between illegal and legal activity. We want to stamp out illegal activity on the part of those who are operating small-scale dog breeding establishments that are hidden underground. We have to consider whether we should change the definition of a dog breeding establishment. If we wanted to provide for a reduction, as suggested in the consultation, that would have to be done in primary legislation. We need to improve standards in dog breeding establishments that are legal and registered while stamping out those that are carrying out illegal activities.
The Minister of State has correctly identified one of the key problems, which is that responsibility for this key area is divided across three Departments. We must get to grips with that if we are to deal with this issue properly. Dogs are not livestock. They are not bred for slaughter or food production. We need to give this the attention it deserves. The problem is that the local authorities are not taking their responsibilities seriously, or have not been adequately resourced to do so. The inaction of Cavan County Council in failing to deal decisively with the Ray Cullivan puppy farm has sent out a dreadful signal to those involved in the illegal activity that has been mentioned by the Minister of State. We need to pay attention to this issue. Will the Minister of State agree to meet some of the groups that are at the coalface in this area? Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan has already asked the Minister of State to meet certain animal protection individuals who are eager to meet him. Would he be willing to meet a group of these responsible volunteers, who have stepped into the breach? I think they would welcome a hearing with the Minister of State if he were able to afford it to them.
I am delighted to meet groups that are interested in animal welfare, which is an important area. I accept it is not ideal that responsibility for this matter is spread across three Departments. There were discussions with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine on foot of the public consultation process. There is a lot of co-ordination and collaboration across Government Departments. As I have mentioned in this House previously, my family got a small rescue dog, Ciara, from the Madra dog rescue centre in Galway. Madra, which does great work, is inundated with volunteers who organise hugely impressive initiatives to raise funds for the centre. The local authorities and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine provide funding towards the end of the year to a number of animal rescue organisations that care for dogs, cats and other animals. I am happy to meet interested groups.
