asked the Minister for Justice whether he is aware that about thirty sheep in one flock were killed by marauding dogs near Dublin city; whether the dog owners were located; and if he will now consider making an order to provide that every licensed dog should wear a collar showing the owner's name or licence number for identity purposes.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Killing of Sheep by Dogs.
65.
Criminal proceedings are pending arising out of the incident to which the question appears to relate and, accordingly, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on it in any way.
I have no authority to make an Order on the lines suggested. Under an enabling Order made by the Minister for Agriculture by virtue of the Dogs Act, 1906, local authorities may make regulations on those lines but apparently no such regulations are now in force.
The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act, 1960, deals specifically with the question of dogs worrying livestock but does not include a provision such as suggested in the question. That Act was introduced by the Minister for Agriculture and any question of amending legislation is a matter for him in the first instance.
Would the Minister state how regulations made by local authorities are enforced?
By the gardaí.
Is the Minister aware that each year local authorities spend thousands of pounds advertising the fact that where dogs are found astray after lighting-up time, their owners will be prosecuted and that not one prosecution has been instituted in the past 25 years?
That is a matter for the local authorities mainly.
It is a matter for the Garda.