Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 2 November 2016
175. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the progress being made on the review of dog breeding regulations; the intended outcome of this review; and the reason there are no breeders, or relevant interests, represented on the review body. [32678/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra176. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the number of registered dog breeders here; and the number of inspections of puppy farms in 2015. [32679/16]
Amharc ar fhreagra177. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government the penalties for being an unregistered dog breeder; the number of enforcement orders that have been taken against breeders for not being registered; and his views on whether there is a lack of enforcement against unregistered dog breeders. [32680/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 175 to 177, inclusive, together.
I refer to the reply to Question No. 269 of 25 October 2016 which sets out the position in relation to the review of the Dog Breeding Establishment Guidelines. The Working Group concerned has produced a first draft revision of the guidelines. The working group is representative of my Department, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, the Department of Agriculture Northern Ireland, the Local Authority Veterinary Services (LAVS), the ISPCA and the DSPCA. All of these bodies have a formal regulatory role and the requisite expertise in this area. The Canine Breeders of Ireland and the Hunt Association of Ireland have also been consulted. The draft revision is currently under consideration in my Department and I expect that the matter will be submitted for my consideration shortly.
The regulation of dog breeding establishments is a matter for local authorities in accordance with the Dog Breeding Establishment Act 2010. Each local authority must maintain for public inspection a register of dog breeding establishments in its functional area, which must include the name and address of the applicant seeking entry onto the register, the address of the dog breeding establishment and the maximum number of breeding bitches that may be kept at the dog breeding establishment or premises.
The Dog Breeding Establishment Act 2010 provides a robust regulatory framework for, inter alia, the licensing, monitoring and inspection of dog breeding establishments by local authorities and, where a serious and immediate threat exists to public health or animal health and welfare, for the closure of such establishments.
Section 45 of the Environment (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2015, commenced on 1 September 2016, amends the Dog Breeding Establishment Act 2010 to allow for the prosecution of an unregistered dog breeding establishment. Since 1 September 2016, on becoming aware of an unregistered dog breeding establishment, the Local Authority may initiate action under this provision. In this regard, section 6 of the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 provides for a fine not exceeding €5,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months, or both, on summary conviction, and also provides for a fine not exceeding €100,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years, or both, on conviction on indictment.
Statistical information of registered dog breeders, new and repeat inspections, enforcement orders and closures carried out on dog breeding establishments is available on my Department’s website at the following link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/search/archived/current/sub-type/dog-control/type/statistics?query=. The process of collating and validating the annual statistics in respect of 2016 by my Department will not commence until next year.
More generally, the enforcement of welfare standards regarding all animals is a matter for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013.
