John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In his capacity as Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy McConalogue visited the Glenasmole Valley in my constituency last year to highlight quite rightly the threat that out-of-control dogs can pose to livestock. While both of us recognise that the vast majority of dog owners in this country are very responsible and while welcoming the measures announced by the Minister today regarding possibly extending the list of restricted breeds, I also acknowledge there has been an increase in attacks by dogs on individuals both in Ireland and abroad. They seem to be increasing. While acknowledging and accepting what the Minister is doing, does he also accept that enforcement is what this is all about? The number of on-the-spot fines that people have to pay can be increased and the range of restricted breeds can be widened but if people continue to walk their dogs without muzzles that are meant to have muzzles or allow them off leashes in parks and on streets where they are meant to be on leashes and with muzzles, simply more enforcement is required. Does the Minister agree?

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