Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

That is fine. It is interesting to sit here in a debate to transpose EU legislation onto our Statute Book only to listen to a debate about the theft of dogs. When I heard this debate was coming up and it was being discussed earlier, I was thinking that it was not appropriate for this Bill. However, I then thought that the Government is going to have to show to Europe that we have transposed this Bill and will have to send a copy of it off. It would be interesting and a bit of craic to send it off with the amendment about protecting dogs and looking after dogs because it would really show what this Government amounts to in the overall scheme of things. It would be very interesting and worthwhile. For that reason, while I was thinking during the debate that this was not appropriate and it should not go ahead and, for the first time in my career, I was thinking I would support the Government in rejecting the amendment, now, I think I will stick with it because I think it would be worthwhile. I would love to be there and, in fact, I would deliver the Bill to the European Commission and make sure the Commission sees it with that provision in it, if it is passed. However, I am sure the Government will use its majority to make sure it is not passed.

I am sure this is an issue of feeling for the Members who have raised it and it needs to be addressed. It is probably a sign of how things cannot be addressed that the Members have to take the step to shoehorn this amendment into the Bill to try to get it dealt with and taken care of. Maybe the Government's response will be that it is not an issue, and maybe the Government can explain that as well.

With regard to the Bill-----

See this speech in context