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

I will start by talking about dog poop. Can one imagine a puppy farm with between 200 and 500 dogs and the amount of dog poop that would be produced? Where are the guidelines for the disposal of that? It cannot go into a normal septic tank, it cannot be spread on the ground and there are dangerous consequences if it goes out into the atmosphere. How many inspections are carried out with that particular aspect in mind? I accept what the Minister of State said about there being a robust regulatory framework. However, that is on paper and is not being seen in action. He says it is a matter for the enforcement authorities, but they are not enforcing the regulations. He said that the local authorities are responsible for monitoring compliance. There are too many examples of local authorities that are doing absolutely nothing. The Minister of State really must engage with the county managers on the enforcement of the terms of that Act.

The Minister of State mentioned that the independent review is taking place. The scope of that review needs to be widened. For example, the independent rescue centres that deal with the fallout in these situations are excluded. They are the groups with real experience that pick up the pieces. There is a need for a dog behaviourist in the review process. There is also a need for independent vets to be part of that review process because the dog breeding industry itself is very well represented.

If we look at the finance, Canine Breeders Ireland estimates that the dog breeding industry is worth in the region of €350 million a year. On the basis that there are 200 registered breeders, it figures that each must be averaging approximately €1.75 million in yearly income. However, according to the statistics, only €95,000 was collected in fees last year for all the dog breeding establishments in Ireland. There has to be a targeted audit of the puppy farm industry. The dog breeders should maintain records that can be provided to Revenue to ascertain that the tax paid is in compliance. In the United States, there are what are called "puppy lemon laws". These are laws which aimed at ensuring the good health of any dog purchased. It is the responsibility of the breeder or the dealer. We need an enhanced inspection regime and the Minister of State has to be proactive.

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