Dáil debates

Thursday, 8 July 2010

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

 

4:00 pm

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

There is a need for legislation in this area and it is important that it is tackled and dealt with. However, the Minister's handling of the legislation this afternoon has created a situation whereby a more robust, measured and detailed approach could have been taken.

There will be shortcomings, although one could argue there are shortcomings in all legislation. I refer to some ideas not included such as examining the area of granting cheaper licences to elderly people. Another simple suggestion was that the Bill could have been future-proofed. The Minister could have regulated rather than proscribed the identification measures to be used for different breeds of dog. DNA sampling may well become the methodology of the future and, if that takes place, the Minister will have to write a whole new Bill.

There is a great deal of insufficiency in this legislation. The approach to puppy farming must be challenged.

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