Camillus Glynn (Fianna Fail)

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire. I preface my remarks by saying that many people in the dog breeding industry in this country and involved in the Irish Greyhound Board or other groupings are in the main very reputable. More than anybody else, they want to ensure the cowboys and cowgirls operating the infamous puppy farms are put out of business. If that happened yesterday, it would not have been too soon.

In this section of the Bill, the three months allows for registration. To give this the optimum effect, one would have to ensure the local authority - the registration authority for these establishments - would effect a positive and active public awareness campaign. I await the Minister's reply on why the three-month provision was included. He might look at it again. I can say with a great degree of certainty that all of us in the House are trying to do the right thing. If the Minister can confirm that three months is sufficient, that is fair enough but if not, I am sure the Minister will reconsider it on Report Stage or even in the Lower House. Having had time to consider the matter and heard the debates pertinent to the section in both Houses, he might look at the provision again. I await his comments.