Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)

Is there any evidence that packs of hounds are being mistreated in any way? There is no need for regulation if people are going about their normal business in a sensible and reasonable manner. There is no need to be passing laws unless legislators are forced into implementing them to ensure that dogs, hounds or whatever are treated properly. I have never heard of any packs of hounds being mistreated, and therefore I fail to see why the Legislature needs to impose regulations that are unnecessary. If puppy farms are abusing dogs, I can fully understand why regulations are introduced, but where people are going about their daily business, doing their jobs properly and not interfering with anybody, why do we need to pass laws telling them they must do X, Y and Z? If the Minister came in here and said he had evidence that packs of hounds were being mistreated and that we needed to impose regulations to ensure this mistreatment ceased, I would fully understand it, but I have no evidence that this is occurring, and I ask the Minister whether he has any.

The Minister mentioned agreements with bodies outside this House. This is the Legislature; it is where laws are passed. It is right and proper that the Minister listen to sound amendments from Opposition parties rather than talking to people on the outside. Have we any role or function in the introduction of legislation, or are we just a rubber stamp, walking through the Níl lobby while the Minister's troops walk through the Tá lobby? I feel strongly about imposing legislation on people who are carrying out their day-to-day duties in a reasonable fashion, and I do not see why we should be asked to pass a law which imposes obligations on them that are totally unnecessary.

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