Mr. Finbarr Heslin:

In the UK, the original legislation was developed at the same time as it was done here. It chose to go down a completely different path, with a much more liberal attitude, where there is self-registration and breeders can register. Nineteen different databases operate in the UK. There is not joined-up thinking at all. Integration with Europe by the UK even before Brexit was always a problem.

Going back to a point I made earlier, every chip is traceable for a manufacturer. If an English dog ended up in Ireland and was registered on a database there that was not integrated into the European system, we would be able to trace it from the manufacturer to where it was distributed. We would also be able to track down the owner that way.