Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

My Department has policy and legislative responsibility for the Control of Dogs Acts and the Dog Breeding Establishments Act. In March 2024, I announced the establishment of a high-level stakeholder group to consider and make recommendations to strengthen policy in relation to these issues. The group is independently chaired by retired deputy Garda Commissioner Mr. John Twomey and is comprised of members with a broad range of experience. The group has been tasked with considering the policy and legislative matters under the remit of my Department, specifically the Dog Control Acts and the Dog Breeding Establishments Act.

The work of the stakeholder group is complex in nature, requiring full consideration of all aspects of the legislation under the remit of my Department and this will take some time. However, in view of recent events, I have asked the chair to prioritise the issue of restricted dogs. This will be the first issue to be considered by the stakeholder group at its next meeting to be held next week. I expect the group to revert to me with recommendations on the matter as soon as possible once it has considered all issues arising.

It is important for dog owners to be aware of their responsibilities and act in a responsible way, not just towards the general public but also towards their dogs. For this reason, I launched a major national awareness campaign in April to alert dog owners to their responsibilities and raise awareness of the dangers that can be posed to people and livestock by uncontrolled dogs. My Department will continue this awareness effort alongside the work of the stakeholder group.

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