Cecilia Keaveney (Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister for his response. With regard to the enforcement of existing legal requirements in respect of animal welfare and dog control, I hope the forthcoming Bill will take account of the fact that an animal in a neighbouring household can be more than a nuisance, it can be a threat when it is not properly controlled. It is difficult to enforce existing legal requirements because the dog must attack the child, leaving the child practically in hospital or dead, before the gardaí can deem it a dangerous dog. In drafting the legislation people should take into consideration how easy it is to enforce existing legal requirements.