Vol. 409 No. 6
27 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for the Environment whether any consideration has been given to the position of the blind in the new regulations about dogs, in particular whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that German shepherd dogs are used both in Ireland and the United Kingdom as guide dogs and have a very good record; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Under the Control of Dogs (Restrictions of Certain Dogs) Regulations, 1991, dogs kept by the Garda Síochána and only used by members of the Garda Síochána in the execution of their duty are the only dogs of the type to which the regulations apply that are exempt from the requirements of the regulations. In view of the injuries these types of dogs can inflict on people I am most reluctant to give further exemptions. However, I understand there are a few German shepherds being used as guide dogs for the blind and I am prepared to consider a modification of the regulations in relation to these.
I appreciate the Minister's reaction to my request on behalf of the blind who have German shepherd guide dogs. I understand the regulations are due to come into effect on Friday. Will the Minister give me an assurance that his consideration of the exemption I am seeking will have been completed and that they will not be affected by the regulations on Friday?
There are three German shepherds as working guide dogs. The Deputy is right that 14 June is the day when the regulation concerning the muzzling comes into force. I will consider his request before that day.
Will these regulations be laid before the Oireachtas? Will there be any discussion or debate on them in the Oireachtas before they become fully effective in the broad sense? It has been suggested to me that responsible people like the Irish Veterinary Union and other such bodies feel that the regulations could have been drafted in more effective way.
The regulations are laid before the House in the normal way and can be annulled by motion. Legislation has been promised to deal with the larger question. Consultations will be going on with the people the Deputy refers to in advance of that.
Will this consultation take place before Friday? All these people want to have proper and effective control of dogs but there have been strong suggestions to me that the manner in which the Minister is proposing to provide that control and that safety for the public may be counter-productive and that this is not the right way of doing it. Will the Minister meet these people like the Irish Veterinary Union and the Irish Kennel Club before Friday? Does he have a proposal to defer the introduction of the regulations until these discussions take place?
No. The regulations have already been made in so far as they go and will be effective from 1 June in so far as having a lead on a particular breeds of dog is concerned and from 14 June in so far as the muzzling of certain breeds of dog is concerned. Those regulations are already in place and they are effective as of now. On the wider question of new legislation to deal in a permanent way with the business, consultations will be ongoing with the organisations the Deputy refers to.
