Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

To reply to the first question, I intend to bring the regulation to the committee. We have several codes of conduct and regulations to agree to relating to fur farming, the digging out of animals and the micro-chipping of dogs. We will also have an entirely new and improved approach towards equine identification also. I intend to bring these issues to the committee in order that we can go through them and iron out concerns people may have.

Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked about retrospection. I am keen to see all dogs micro-chipped, but we have to have a reasonable timeframe for people to do this. I understand the United Kingdom is setting a date of either 2016 or 2017 for all dogs to be micro-chipped. We must figure out how best to ensure people will be able to afford to do this. For example, we will discuss the matter with the Veterinary Council of Ireland to determine whether veterinary surgeons throughout the country will do this work at cost. I gather that if they were to do so, it might cost approximately €7.50 to have a dog micro-chipped, as opposed to €40 or €50, if one were to pay the cost of expertise and so on. However, in doing it in that way veterinary surgeons would be bring in far more clients to their practices and it would make sense for them to do so. We need to work this out with veterinary practitioners and other interested groups. We will have a consultation process before we finalise any regulation and it will involve a discussion at the committee.

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