Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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404. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government further to Parliamentary Question No. 341 of 1 April 2014, if he will seek expert advice in relation to making owners more accountable for their dogs behaviour rather than restricting particular breeds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16684/14]

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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My Department is in ongoing contact with groups involved in dog control and dog welfare issues, as well as with the professional staff of the local authority veterinary services around the country. I remain open to all views and developments in this area and receive such views from interested parties on an ongoing basis.

There are different views on various dog control issues, including the issue of restrictions on certain breeds, and I must take the full range of concerns into account in the approach to be followed. Several other jurisdictions address the matter of restrictions of particular breeds of dogs in a similar way to Ireland; for example, England, Northern Ireland, France and New Zealand all have similar restrictions on specific breeds of dogs.

I have always emphasised that responsible dog ownership is key to a productive relationship between dogs, dog owners and the general public. Individual dog owners must recognise and accept their responsibilities for ensuring that their dogs are controlled at all times and do not cause harm to people or other animals. This position is enshrined in our legislation, as are the penalties for non-conformance and the statutory responsibility of local authorities for enforcement. Local authority dog control staff work on enforcement of this legislation on an ongoing basis.