Máire Hoctor (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Senator for raising this matter, which I will be taking on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Deputy Gormley.

I wish to outline the current requirements applying in respect of particular breeds of dogs to which the Senator refers. The Control of Dogs Regulations 1998 provide for special controls in respect of the following breeds or types of dogs: the American pit bull terrier; the bull mastiff; the Doberman Pinscher; the English bull terrier; the German shepherd or Alsatian; the Japanese akita; the Japanese tosa; the Rhodesian ridgeback; the Rottweiler; the Staffordshire bull terrier; every dog of the type commonly known as a ban dog — or bandog — and every other strain or cross of every breed or type of the dogs listed.

The regulations are quite specific in this area and require that a person shall not permit any of these dogs to be in a public place unless the animal is securely muzzled and being led, on a sufficiently strong chain or leash not exceeding two metres in length, by a person over the age of 16 years who is capable of controlling the dog. The Control of Dogs Act 1986 defines "public place" very widely. Included under the definition are any street, road, seashore, park, land, field or other place to which the public has access, whether by right or permission, and whether subject to or free of charge.

The Act also contains specific requirements in respect of the control of all dogs by their owners and persons in charge of dogs, including places where dogs are permitted to be. Section 22 of the Act provides that, on a complaint being made to the District Court by any interested person that a dog is dangerous and not kept under proper control, the court has powers to order that a dog which the court considers dangerous be kept under proper control or be destroyed. While the Minister is generally satisfied with the wide definition of a "public place" where the breeds of dogs to which I refer must be controlled, he intends to keep this issue under review and, if necessary, to introduce further measures to tighten the controls.