Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)

I apologise. I wanted to come in but I was delayed at other meetings. There are a lot on a Wednesday.

My son is a hill sheep farmer. The committee is discussing dogs and it is a huge issue. We have been fortunate in our area of the Knockmealdown Mountains, but neighbouring farmers have been annihilated. When the sheep are chased and attacked by any dog, but especially bigger dogs, they are all worried and harried and they do not thrive. It is the height of cruelty. It is hard to prove which dog it is even where the dogs are identified. Some people have shot dogs and got in trouble over that. It is an issue that needs to be dealt with because it is pretty widespread. The problem is that people in ordinary houses - I am not naming anyone - are ordinary people, but they have big, dangerous dogs. If one reports it to An Garda Síochána, the response is that the Garda cannot really deal with it. There is only one dog warden in south Tipperary. It is impossible and is a quite serious situation. It is unfair. The animal cruelty is horrific, but it is unfair on families as well because farmers, especially sheep and cattle farmers, tend to their animals and engage in animal husbandry, and they do not want this happening.

I thank the witnesses for their presentations. I am sorry I did not hear them. Perhaps I can get it after the meeting. The issue needs to be dealt with.