Michael Murphy (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank Ms O'Connor, Mrs. O'Tuama, Ms Fitzpatrick and the people in Public Gallery for shining a light on a real issue.

Pets are not just companions. They are part of the family. It is no different in my household. I am a big motor sports fan. I do not know whether the witnesses know the story about Lewis Hamilton and the connection he had with Roscoe. That is a man who wants for nothing. He is not short of money. He adopted Roscoe in back in 2013 and if anyone reflects the bond that exists between families and their pets, it is Lewis Hamilton, even though I am not a big fan of his when it comes to the sport. I am more of a Max Verstappen fan to be honest.

Theft can have a particular impact on children and older people. The bond can be even greater. There is trauma in children losing their pets. I fully agree that pet theft, including dog theft, needs to be treated as serious criminal theft as opposed to theft of property. We need to improve the legal and policy framework. I heard what the witnesses said about other jurisdictions. I fully support the idea that where patterns emerge geographically an improved Garda response is needed.

We do not have mandatory microchipping here. In the context of theft, sometimes the chips are just ripped - for want of a better word - from the pet. As regards the penalty and the crime being treated as serious criminal theft, is there room for improved monetary fines as well that would perhaps be linked to people's income and deducted at source? At the end of the day, let us be realistic; our courts are busy and our prisons are overcrowded. We are looking for a deterrent.

My pets are not microchipped. Is that a reflection on me? Would it make a difference if I microchipped them? Is there an issue with people not reporting pet theft? Perhaps I am unique. I sent one of my pets away to be obedience trained and the pet was stolen from the kennels. I took the individual to court and I remember the judge looking at me and saying "your dog was stolen". I said "Yes". He awarded me €1,000 but I never saw a penny because I could not chase it up. I experienced that kind of theft. Will the witnesses comment on microchipping and possible deterrents, not only custodial or monetary ones?