Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 October 2023
646. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if any of the recommendations from the interdepartmental working group which has been examining issues under the Control of Dogs Act (details supplied) have been implemented and if she will provide details on the recommendation on signage of the by-laws on dogs in parks. [44935/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has overall policy responsibility for the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 and the Control of Dogs Acts 1986 to 2014. As the Deputy will be aware, animal welfare and microchipping is under the remit of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM). My Department is working with DAFM to co-ordinate efforts in the area of dog control across government.
In late 2022, Minister Mc Conalogue was tasked by the then Taoiseach, now Tánaiste Micheál Martin to lead a cross-government review of legislation regarding dogs. I met with Minister Mc Conalogue on Monday 9th January and we requested officials to convene a working group on the control of dogs’ issue. This group, which was chaired by DAFM, held a number of meetings and produced a report in March 2023. The report, which made 15 recommendations, has been published on the DAFM website, along with the minutes of the meetings of the group.
In relation to the recommendations assigned to my Department, I am currently considering increases to on-the-spot fines for offences under the Control of Dogs Acts 1986 to 2014 which requires the drafting of a statutory instrument. The centralised national database of registered Dog Breeding Establishments was put in place and is now available on Gov.ie.
My officials are reviewing the existing legislative provisions under the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 and the Control of Dogs Acts 1986 to 2014, 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. Signage in relation to by-laws is a matter for local authorities.
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 on all of the issues of concern, and to working with colleagues across Government to ensure the Working Group's recommendations are implemented.
