Niall Ó Brolcháin (Green Party)

There is a suggestion that this will destroy the whole rural way of life for generations. The suggestion that this Bill, which is straightforward animal welfare legislation, will destroy a way of life or a rural culture is a gross exaggeration. I cannot understand from where this is coming. I do not see the logic in it other that there is some ulterior motive which is not being expressed here.

What would happen in practice if this amendment exempting a particular group was agreed to? There are bad breeding practices in this country and if one group of people is exempt, what is to stop somebody setting up a puppy farm but calling it a hunt?