Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)

First, for the record, I have received a submission from the Countryside Alliance. We have had submissions from many different organisations. As Members are aware, the Countryside Alliance is a strong supporter of hunting and other such pursuits.

The first paragraph of section 16 states: "A person shall not, except in accordance with animal health and welfare regulations, carry out an operation". I must put in place regulations that will go with the legislation to clarify the various measures. The regulation that currently exists refers to excepted operations:

The rendering in emergency of first aid for the purpose of saving a life or relieving pain.

The docking of the tail of a dog under one month old.

The amputation of the dew claws of a dog before its eyes are open.

The castration of a male animal specified in the following table before it has reached the age so specified, that is to say:

Bull - six months

Sheep – three months

Goat – two months;

Pig – two months

Cat - four months.

That is the current regulation which is now outdated. We must put a new set of regulations in place that provides clarity on the issue. What we are trying to do is put into the main Bill a consistent wording that will allow us to put a more detailed regulation in place when we clarify the specifics of what is being said.

To be honest, I do not know that much about show dogs-----