John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

The stipulation of four months was to ensure that any bitch which fell pregnant no matter how young would be reckonable when defining a breeding establishment. The Dáil accepted the amendment to change the four months to six months in response to calls here in the Seanad; Members may recall we had a discussion on that. It is important to state this does not invalidate the rationale for specifying an age threshold which was to ensure that any dog with breeding potential was included. It should not be considered as setting down a marker for when to start breeding. It would not be wise, as some have proposed, to have a threshold at 12 months or even two years. The Senators will recall an amendment on that was put down in this House which the Labour Party voted for, as I recall, and then subsequently voted for the legislation in the Dáil.

I believe everyone would acknowledge that most breeds of bitch could breed in the first 12 months of life and greyhounds in their second year. A 12 month or two year threshold would discount litters born before that time elapsed, possibly leading to an increase in the overall number of litters per bitch to the detriment of her welfare. It would be difficult to justify such provision in a Bill concerned with animal welfare.