Lynn Boylan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This morning I would like to raise the issue of animal welfare.The European Union is currently looking at regulations that set out to improve the welfare of companion animals, particularly cats and dogs, and this is welcome. I wish to flag my concern at the news coming out of Brussels with regard to the negotiations that the Government is siding with countries that want to reduce the regulation to allow non-vets to administer the euthanasia drug pentobarbital. This is concerning. We are a small country and we cannot use the excuse of remote facilities. It is also concerning given our history. We have seen this drug abused in the Ashton pound case, where it was administered orally to dogs who suffered horrendous deaths as a result. That case went all the way through the courts. It is deeply concerning that the Government is siding with countries that want to see non-vets administer this drug. One of the excuses given is that it could be used by dog-breeding establishments, when we have welfare concerns about those dog-breeding establishments as it is.

I also request from the Leader of the House an update from both the relevant Departments - the Department of agriculture and the Department of the Minister, Deputy Heather Humphreys – around all of the promised reforms we keep hearing will come for dog welfare. We have seen the Government is good at setting up reviews, public consultations and working groups, but we never see actual reform taking place. We are still awaiting the guidelines for dog-breeding establishments to be put on a statutory footing. We are also waiting for the Control of Dogs Act reform and the Animal Health and Welfare Act reform. I was told my own legislation would be captured by this review of all dog welfare, yet it is almost three years later now and that loophole still exists. It is preventing young pups from being rehomed, as it is necessary to wait for legal proceedings to conclude before they can be rehomed.

I regularly talk about dog welfare in this House. I meet with the dog welfare organisations and they tell me the situation has never been so bad. They are inundated with surrenders and are over-capacity. They are dealing with cases of extreme cruelty and neglect like they have never seen before. They are crying out for these reforms and stronger penalties. Likewise, I meet with responsible dog owners whose dogs are on the restricted breed list. They are anxious because they were promised that when the Control of Dogs Act was going to be reviewed, decisions would be made. Now they wonder whether there will be restrictions around their beloved pets and whether their pets will be banned.

These delays are not helping the situation; it is only getting worse. I would like an update from the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, and the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, on all of those reviews and consultations.