Martin Brady (Fianna Fail)

I welcome the Minister of State and the Bill, which is long overdue. Senator Hannigan mentioned barking dogs in estates. We receive many complaints about this; I received one only last week. Barking can keep people awake all night. They wonder what they can do about it and who can they go to. Do they go to the Garda? I am glad to see there is provision in the Bill for this, but more clarity is required. I read this part of the Bill specifically because I had an interest in it. It states that complainants must speak to their neighbours and then write to them. However, I do not think it is always practical for people to speak to neighbours about whom they are making a complaint and, even if they do, some will tell them to get lost. It is not practical to write to them either and then go to court. That aspect of the Bill needs more clarity.

I know of several people who keep dogs in inadequate facilities. Some people have dogs in apartments or in houses that do not even have gardens but only small patios. A dog needs a run. Such conditions are not suitable for dogs and it is cruel to keep them there. As has been mentioned, people sometimes get presents of pups at Christmas, get fed up with them and abandon them. I have heard of cases in which people have driven 50 miles down the country, let the dog out of the car and driven off. For that reason I welcome the provisions with regard to microchipping in the Bill. It may help somewhat in curtailing that type of practice.

Senator Norris referred to dog fighting, which is a common practice, particularly in other parts of our island, with dogs imported from the UK. It is a blood sport and there is much money involved, with people betting on one of two dogs in a fight to the death, sometimes with both dogs eventually dying. This needs to be addressed by the Minister. I do not see such a provision in the Bill, although it could be there.

Another issue is that of guard dogs on building sites which are not properly looked after. They are half-starved and out in the open with no proper kennels. The issue of puppy farms has been adequately articulated by previous speakers and I am glad to see it has been dealt with in the Bill.

There are regulations in some local authorities which provide that dogs should be on leashes when on beaches and so on. However, this does not happen in all cases. I have never seen anybody fined or prosecuted for not adhering to such regulations, but there have been a couple of instances in my constituency in which children were attacked, including one who suffered from severe facial disfiguration.

Hunting is a dog-related issue because dogs are used for hunting. I do not see much wrong with certain types of hunting which have been traditional in this country. As Senator O'Toole said, we do not want to turn off the lights completely on rural Ireland. One could use any excuse for banning a sport. A stag running into a school playground is not a reason to ban hunting, just as car rallies should not be banned because somebody drives a car into a wall.

It has been reported that puppies and breeding bitches are being brought here from the UK and subjected to docking, which involves cutting off the dog's tail with a knife. This procedure has been illegal since 2007 and is quite cruel. Most of these dogs are docked for cosmetic reasons, such as for dog shows.

Last year about 550 dogs and cats were used for research. What happens to them after that research is completed has not been clearly established; some people in the DSPCA believe they die. Thus, dogs and cats are being bred to die. This should be addressed in the Bill.

I have received representations from various associations involved in the dog business, as Senator Coffey mentioned earlier. They feel they have not been adequately consulted and that the submissions they made were not taken into account. They felt that promises had been made to them by the Minister which were not delivered on and that the Minister had done a U-turn on some sections of the Bill, to which they have proposed amendments. While I welcome the Bill, I hope the Minister will find time to consult them adequately prior to Committee Stage because the Greyhound Owners and Breeders Association, the Dog Breeders Association of Ireland and the Irish Kennel Club have put a great deal of work into the submissions. I commend them on their work and the interest they took in the legislation.