Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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I thank the Cathaoirleach and all of the witnesses for coming before the committee and for their opening statements. There is a single trend through all of this, which is traceability. It is about who owns a dog, where the dog is and how it can be traced and followed up. There are issues with neighbours' pets that escape and get out. It could be a dog that gets out and damages sheep. There are also people who go walking in the country for recreation and who jump out of the car, open the boot and let the dog out with no lead. Away they go as if it is free and open countryside. It may be free and open countryside but if there are domestic animals in the fields nearby they are in danger. They may not always be attacked and ravaged by a dog as they may be just run. If pregnant ewes are chased around a field there will be miscarriages and big losses. This may not be as evident as it is where animals are attacked. We have seen some of the graphic pictures that have been sent in and we are all conscious of this.

Today, if we can, we need to focus on what can be done. A trend running through this meeting is discussion of a national database, microchipping and licences. Do the witnesses feel, as I do, that there are not enough resources for the dog wardens? Half of them do not have wands to read the chips even if they do come across a dog, and there are not enough of them in place to ensure it is followed up on. I have come across situations where people have been contacted and it is three days later before someone comes from the local authority to speak to them about what happened. I would like to get the views of the witnesses on this and what level of additional resources they think is needed to police the somewhat inadequate legislation that exists at present. I will throw this open, perhaps to the INHFA first as they were the first to present.