Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 January 2024
114. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how he intends to publicise the departmental public consultation on electric shock collars; what steps he intends to take following receipt of all submissions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4385/24]
View answerThe public consultation process in relation to the use of remotely controlled electronic shock collars on dogs and cats has been publicised by my Department. Numerous stakeholder groups have been contacted directly by email. This has been accompanied by an information note and contact details on my Department's website inviting direct engagement from the public. Officials in my Department have engaged with a number of queries from national print and broadcast media, resulting in several stories on this consultation being run in the national print and broadcast media.
My Department also issued a press release, relaying details of the consultation process and inviting submissions. This week my Department is placing an advertisement inviting submissions in the national print media. My Department is accepting submissions in relation to the consultation until the 16th of February 2024. Officials within my Department will then review all the submissions received. These submissions will then inform further consideration of this question, including discussions with the Advisory Council on Companion Animal Welfare.
