Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I also agree with the Minister's and Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív's argument regarding how following a three hour debate yesterday, the media chose to focus on one item and got it so wrong. I was here yesterday and heard what the Minister said about microchipping and his efforts to ensure this would be done at minimal cost. Like Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív, I was shocked this morning to find that this was the one item that had come up, which was very disappointing. I also acknowledge what the Minister said about the tremendous work done by welfare organisations, of which there are many, and the funding they received. I am glad to hear this funding will continue. Many individuals have done Trojan work in looking after animals that have been abandoned and neglected.

There is no doubt that there is a problem with feral cats which must be addressed in some way. Many of these so-called feral cats are linked with the domestic cat population because of overbreeding and it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between them because if a domestic cat has been out roaming for a short while, it can have the look of a feral cat. People have told me that domestic cats were taken and exterminated by pest control companies before their owners had had a chance to get them back. The point I was making yesterday about pest control companies was that they were not animal welfare organisations and should not have any role in dealing with cats. The simple way to deal with feral cats and the overbreeding of cats is to use the trap, neuter and return approach. We are talking about greater regulation which I would like to see included, perhaps not legally, but there is a need to look at this issue more thoroughly.

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