Paraic Brady (Fine Gael)

I agree that is unacceptable in this day and age. Let us be quite clear on this. I hunt on horseback and I shoot. We are registered and licensed. We have dogs that are under control. They are doing what they are meant to do. They are not the problem here. Let us be quite clear on that. The National Association of Regional Game Councils, NARGC, sees that members' dogs are licensed. They go where they are meant to go and do what they are meant to do. They are not the problem. I would not like them labelled as having anything to do with this.

Before we go any further, as was said already, the problem is in black spot areas where the dogs are being let off. The farmers have co-operated to put these walkways and cycleways through their land. Permission has been given. I have been involved in many of them. Our walkways are always fenced off with sheep wire and should have been all fenced off with sheep wire. Any dog that is on a walkway that has not got permission to be there should be on a leash. If it is not on a leash, it should not be out on a walkway on any hill, any day. Legislation needs to be firmly tightened up on this. Going forward, this committee, with the witnesses' suggestions and feedback, will put policy together. We will firm this up and hopefully it will alleviate some of the problem. I would like to be associated with the view that the problem concerns not all owners of dogs. I am a pet owner. I control my dogs. I am in a hunters' association and go horseback riding. We do not cause problems. If a problem arises, and you often have a problem, let us be quite clear that we are insured for any problem that is caused out there. If a dog runs out in front of a car and a car is damaged, we are insured by the NARGC or by the hunters' association. We are legalised for doing what we do.