Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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I move:

That leave be granted to introduce a Bill entitled an Act to provide for animal welfare considerations in the operation of dog breeding establishments, including but not limited to a cap on the number of breeding bitches, the age of bitches allowed to breed, the age of pups when removed from their mothers, a staff-to-bitch ratio, and to prohibit the use of surgical artificial insemination; and to provide for related matters.

There really is nothing cuter than a little puppy - all big paws, big ears, wet noses and just a bundle of energy and pure love. However, the horrible reality behind that cuteness is often an absolute horror story for the mammy dog living in the most inhumane conditions that produced that puppy. They are often caged with no room to move, lying in their own faeces and urine, matted, cold, dirty, often without water, without food, without bedding, with no access to light or to fresh air and certainly no access to love or kindness. They often have serious health conditions or are covered in sores. They are just bred over and over again until they serve no further purpose. It is a truly miserable existence and most people in this country would be horrified to know exactly what these poor animals are put through.

That is why I am introducing today the Dog Welfare (Amendment) Bill. The reality is that puppy farm owners do not care about these dogs because all they care about is money. All they see when they see these dogs are euro signs and it is a very lucrative business. It is estimated that approximately 100,000 pups are bred each year in Ireland, with buyers paying thousands of euro per pup. Many of these pups are now being sold overseas to buyers in the UK, Europe and Asia. Some people are making an awful lot of money on the misery of these poor animals. When the female dogs get too old to breed any more or when puppies get too old and have outgrown their cuteness and their best-before date passes, these dogs are often dumped or indeed just left to die.

Ireland is a nation of animal lovers, but I believe that most in the Irish public assume that there are regulations of puppy farms to protect these pups and dogs. It really could not be further from the truth. What are the rules at the moment? There is no cap on the number of dogs that are bred in a breeding establishment. It would not be unusual to have 300 female breeding dogs on site with potentially thousands of puppies. Females as young as four months old can be bred, when they are just pups themselves. There is no maximum age on a breeding female. They can have up to six litters in their lifetimes. There is no mandated staff-animal ratio and harmful practices such as surgical insemination remain legal. The door is left open to unregistered breeding.

The Bill that I am introducing today, the Dog Welfare (Amendment) Bill 2025, will cap the number of breeding females at 30 per site. It will introduce a 16-month minimum age and an eight-year maximum age for breeding. There will be a maximum of one litter per year per breeding female; a maximum of four litters per breeding female during her lifetime; and a minimum age of ten weeks for pup separation. It will mandate a 10:1 animal-staff ratio for proper care. It will outlaw surgical artificial insemination and other harmful practices and update fee structures to reflect new welfare standards.

I take this opportunity today to pay tribute to the hundreds of rescues around this country that pick up the pieces of this broken system. These are often volunteers who just have to fundraise for their own rescues. They put all their love and passion into caring for these dogs and pups.

They take it all on board themselves. The Minister knows the work they do and how hard it is for them. Despite being overwhelmed by the numbers of dogs and puppies needing help, they do their best to re-home these dogs and show them the care and love they have never had before. I want to mention Wicklow animal rescue, where I got my gorgeous dog Dolly, and Mollie Moo's Pet Farm where I got Poppy recently, A Dog's Life and Pauline's Rescue, which I have also rescued dogs through. This is where all my lovely doggies came from.

I want to give credit to the pro bonoteam at Fieldfisher Ireland, who dedicated an enormous number of pro bonohours to prepare their report entitled Key Reforms to Dog Breeding in Ireland, which was published on their website last year. Many of the changes referred to in this Private Members' Bill come from the Fieldfisher paper and it was hugely helpful in my research, so I want to thank them. I also give credit to Dog Law Ireland, founded by three amazing solicitors who absolutely adore dogs and are doing everything they can to help them. I have been working with these three solicitors over the last number of months to prepare this Private Members' Bill.

I ask the Minister to consider the recommendations in this Bill. I believe we will be getting to debate it. I really hope he could give good consideration to it. It is something everybody in the Chamber, I would hope, will be able to stand behind and give support to.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Is the Bill being opposed?

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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No.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Since this is a Private Members' Bill, Second Stage must, under Standing Orders, be taken in Private Members' time.

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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I move: "That the Bill be taken in Private Members' time."