Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for her question. I am not sure why it was not grouped with Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan's question. I do not know if that is up to us or somebody else. I will check that. I have acknowledged Deputy O'Sullivan's work in this area on many occasions. I have had some debates with her here on it as well. I appreciate Deputy Daly mentioning that and recognise the work of Deputy O'Sullivan.

The Dog Breeding Establishment Act 2010 provides a robust regulatory framework for,inter alia, the licensing, monitoring and inspection of dog breeding establishments by local authorities and, where a serious and immediate threat exists to public health or animal health and welfare, for the closure of such establishments. More generally, the enforcement of welfare standards regarding all animals is a matter for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. A joint inspection regime of dog breeding establishments, involving the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the local authority veterinary service, was inaugurated in 2015 for the purpose of inspection and follow-up action.

My Department is in the process of reviewing the current dog breeding establishment guidelines, in collaboration with the County and City Management Association's dogs working group. Following the production of a first draft revision of the guidelines, it was considered important to broaden the review of the guidelines to a more formal public consultation, both for quality assurance and to address the need for openness and inclusiveness. A wide-scale formal public consultative process commenced on 1 December 2016 and closed on 28 February 2017. My Department is currently reviewing the feedback and data received through the process. I expect the findings to be submitted to me in June 2017, which I will consider carefully and without delay.

I can commit that the review will be completed. I can guarantee that much from my end. It is a matter in which I have an interest myself, mainly because of Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan, who brought it to my attention. We will try to complete the review as quickly as we can in the Department. I understand that the overall process has gone on for over 18 months at this stage and would be happy to bring it to an end. I hope to do so in the months ahead.

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