Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 October 2023
613. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development her views on the Control of Dogs and Dog Breeding Establishment Miscellaneous Bill; to outline the proposed changes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43724/23]
View answerMy Department has overall policy responsibility for the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 and the Control of Dogs Acts 1986 to 2014.
My officials are currently reviewing the existing legislative provisions, taking account of recommendations from, inter alia, the Report of the Working Group on Control of Dogs, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Food, Agriculture and the Marine, consultation with stakeholders and experts in the field, and the outcomes of the public consultation undertaken by my Department in 2019. Updates to the existing legislation are required and it is proposed that amendments will be made through a Control of Dogs and Dog Breeding Establishment Miscellaneous Bill.
Items under consideration include the possibility for dog control notices, the inclusion of additional breeds in the restricted dogs list and updates to definitions contained in the Dog Breeding Establishments Act. However, the issues raised are wide ranging and complex and require in depth analysis and consultation to ensure amendments are not just robust, fit for purpose and implementable but that they also deliver the best outcomes for communities and for dogs themselves.
Furthermore, it is my intention to establish a stakeholder group on the control of dogs issues in the coming weeks, which will also be tasked with consideration of the types of changes that may be necessary. I look forward to engaging with stakeholders throughout the legislative process.
