Dáil debates

Thursday, 8 July 2010

Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages

 

2:00 pm

Photo of Ciarán LynchCiarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour)

Perhaps the Minister can correct me, because his signature appears at the end of this letter. He stated:

Given that the primary objective of the proposed regulations is to regulate commercial dog breeding, and in view of the stricter standards which apply to the members of the Hunting Association of Ireland, it is my intention that groups affiliated to the HAI be granted an exemption from the requirements of the regulations.

I note that Deputy Mattie McGrath is sitting behind the Minister. He put it more eloquently than me when he construed the Minister's words to mean that if one was not part of the problem, one should not be part of the solution.

Consequently, my amendment proposes to get the Minister out of the quagmire he has created for himself by taking legislation that had cross-party unanimous support in this House to deal with the issue of puppy farming. It proposes to leave issues relating to the greyhound industry and greyhound breeding within the remit of the 1958 Act. At this late stage, I hope the Minister will accept this amendment and will support this proposal. This amendment constitutes an effort by the Opposition to assist this Bill by making it more robust. It does not create a scenario whereby the greyhound industry will be regulated under two Acts and this clarifies this debate, in order that Members can move forward and deal with the more substantive issues, which are the intent of this Bill, namely, those pertaining to puppy farming.

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