Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will not need ten. I think everything has been said that needs to be said. I welcome some of the updates the Minister of State has provided. I am positive and hopeful that the recommendations will be taken into account. It is important that what has been put forward in this report is heeded. There are many reports from committees and everywhere else and many recommendations, and the work does not end when the report is finished and published.

I failed to mention dog wardens and it is important to give them a mention. They work really hard in all our local authorities across the State. Some local authorities are under-resourced and dog wardens are under pressure, particularly in rural counties, where they have to drive miles from one are area to another. We have said two Departments and the local authorities should not have oversight of policy and legislation but that it should be left to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. That is one of the recommendations. However, there is a role for local authorities, particularly for dog wardens. We need to ensure local authorities are resourced properly and have an adequate number of dog wardens. That needs to be looked at.

I am the only Deputy here, though there are not many of us present, who has spoken on this and not mentioned my dog. We have a lovely collie at home. I always say to people that dogs are so clever and our dog is a prime example of that. We called her Lassie, which I know is not original. She can open and close the back door, which I find incredible. When I say it to people, they do not believe me. When dad goes in for the tea and sits at the table, she comes in a biscuit or two. Sometimes we have to tell her to close the door and she goes back to close it. They are very clever and provide an awful lot of love. For older people and people who live alone who have dogs, they are incredible company and they provide support to people who sometimes are not recognised by others.

We have a job of work here. The report is done but the work does not finish there. I hope we can work together because I think there is cross-party support in the Chamber across the board in relation to animal welfare and, in this case, dog welfare. The recommendations are there, they need to be implemented and I think it is fair to say we will all work to make that happen.

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