Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

In recent months, there have been some appalling attacks on innocent flocks of sheep. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and Rural and Community Development have set up a working group, but we need more than a working group. We need tangible action against these savage attacks and against the dog owners who do not look after their dogs - although most dog owners do - and leave them run wild and cause marauding attacks on innocent little sheep. It does damage to the whole flock and it causes injuries. It also causes trauma to the families who own those sheep, as well as to the veterinarians and people who go out to treat them. It is very serious. We need this working group to report. This is the height of the lambing season. It is a wonderful, joyous season to have spring lambs being born outdoors, but there are these attacks. There must be more stringent controls on dogs that are not muzzled and that are off leashes that go on to these farms. We must have severe punishments for these animals when they are caught.

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