Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 4:

In page 14, line 17, to delete "4 months" and substitute "2 years".

This amendment relates to breeding bitches. According to the Bill, bitches would be breeding at four months. That is a ludicrous provision. Breeding bitches in any establishments will be at least 18 months to two years old before they start breeding. To refer in the Bill to breeding bitches of four months old is absolutely ludicrous. It shows a complete lack of understanding of the breeding of any breeds of dogs, but particularly greyhounds. We propose that the four months be changed to two years. If Senator Ó Brolcháin, who is sniggering over there, is suggesting that one can breed greyhound bitches at four months old——