Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party) | Oireachtas source

I record my compliments to the Minister also. Animal protection and welfare are more important than ever against the backdrop of evidence of a rise in cruelty and abandonment on foot of economic issues and general austerity. Protection is required to a greater extent than ever. Undoubtedly, there are significant gaps in the existing provisions. Given that we are catching up through many welcome provisions in the Bill, the lack of certain protections and the continuation of blood sports, including hare coursing, and the digging out of foxes are even more abhorrent. Those are issues we will focus on very shortly.

The way the Minister has handled the passage of the Bill has been excellent. Hours of debate have gone into the legislation over months. Substantial changes have been introduced and all of us have developed our understanding of the issues through the dialogue that has been engaged in. I agree with many of the points made by the Minister who said that legislation is not the vehicle for many issues to be addressed. The proof of the pudding will be in the implementation of codes of practice, the resources provided and the engagement with citizens to raise consciousness on these issues to advance matters for animals. While some of us have, as we showed yesterday, very little experience of moving legislation, the passage of the Bill has been the most participative legislative process I have seen in my time in the House, which is great. It is a testament to the efforts of the Minister.

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