Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I extend my condolence to the loved ones of Private Seán Rooney, who tragically lost his life in the Lebanon. Ireland woke up this morning to hear this sad news. I think also of his colleague, Trooper Shane Kearney. We wish him a speedy recovery. Our thoughts are with their families and their colleagues in the Defence Forces. It reminds us all of the dangers that are out there on peacekeeping missions around the world. Ireland has a great and wonderful tradition of keeping peace and being out there to work on behalf of people in conflict-torn regions around the world. I wanted to take the opportunity to say that.

I am glad to get the opportunity to speak on this legislation. We will not be opposing the Bill either. We see the merits of it and the direction it intends to travel. I think all of us acknowledge the love and compassion people can have for a pet and especially for a dog. We have Rua and Seoda, two large Irish wolfhounds, at home. They are certainly something all in our house care very deeply for. It is the same across the country for people who have pets. Often, a small house dog is something a person can give all their attention and the reflection of love they give back is unconditional. The dog always comes wagging its tail to you no matter what kind of humour you are in and that is something we all recognise and understand. If an animal like that gets sick or is stolen, it is a very traumatic thing for the owner. This legislation is trying to reflect that and to do something in respect of it.

I understand that almost 250 dogs were stolen in 2021 across the country. That was an increase on the previous year. We are also aware of the issues with microchipping. The Minister of State has mentioned there has been work done in respect of that. I think there are four different databases that record microchipping and that needs to be streamlined to ensure all the information goes onto the one database in order that everything is accessible to all authorities, including the councils, which have a role here, and to the Garda and veterinary practices etc. across the country. The scanners used need to be more widely available. Generally it is only vets who have them. Members of An Garda Síochána should have them, as should community wardens working with local authorities. It is important because sometimes a dog or animal is found dead on the road and it is simply disposed of, with nobody checking it for a microchip. That dog could very easily be reported stolen at some stage and nobody knows what has happened to it. In other words, there are gaping holes in how things are processed and done in respect of that and we must acknowledge that as well.

I return to the Bill before us.

I understand the need to do something here and to raise this issue but I also have reservations about mandating judges to use minimum sentences. It is something we are always careful about and we need to be careful about it here.

As the Minister of State alluded to, short sentencing is widely recognised by international assessments as something that does not create the best outcome. People who go to prison for short periods of time end up reoffending and going onto a conveyer belt. There are alternatives that must be examined. That is not to say we should not have very strong deterrents in place for people who would take a part of a family away, which a pet often is. We need to find a way of looking at that and coming up with a solution in respect of it.

There are a couple of things I would like to find out a little more about. Perhaps as the Bill progresses we can look at these things. For instance, does the Bill cover breeds on the restricted dogs list? We need to be careful about that. We are all very conscious of the devastating effect attacks have had, particularly on children. Unfortunately, the case in the Minister of State's county of Wexford was not the first. There have been others. Across the water in England, there have been many. There are issues around that. The control of dogs and everything like that needs to be tightened up big time across the State.

We also understand that the welfare of animals in general is something we all have a keen responsibility for, to ensure strict guidelines are in place and have to be adhered to. A trade has developed in buying and selling dogs, particularly some of the bred dogs. They are similar to the wolfhounds we have at home, which are purebred. They are beautiful animals and people want to have them and cherish them and all of that. It has become quite a lucrative trade for some. That is fine provided they do it right and follow the guidelines and provided it is all above board and done properly. That is the key thing here. Many people recognise that there are large problems in respect of how well it is done, inspections and all of that, and ensuring people are complying with the regulations that are in place at present.

Many of these incidents of the theft of an animal or a pet in a house or whatever take place in the context of a burglary, where a lot of other items can be taken as well. I have experience of people who have had their property vandalised or robbed. The one thing they always talk about being taken is the pet. It is more important than anything else that was taken. This legislation is trying to reflect that. There needs to be a recognition that it is not the same as a camcorder, a phone or a laptop. It is something that is part of people's lives.

I commend the proposers for coming up with this legislation but there is work to be done on it. Hopefully we can all work together to get it through. It is very seldom that any legislation comes before us on First Stage or Second Stage that does not need to be developed or does not need the input, particularly on Committee Stage, of expert witnesses who can give us direction and support on how to make it better and make it effective. We want to make sure we do something that is effective, works, creates a greater deterrent to prevent people carrying out these kinds of offences, and ensures these kinds of offences end. That is one of the big things that need to happen. We want to stamp out the activity of those who violate people's lives by taking away their pets like that.

I again thank the proposers. I commend the Bill. I am sure it will pass forward and go through the other Stages and hopefully be improved upon.

See this speech in context