Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail)

Go raibh maith agat. I compliment the Minister on the manner in which he has dealt with the amendments we tabled. We approached all Stages of the debate in a constructive and engaging manner, bearing in mind that this is a very important Bill to protect pets and animals on the farm and in the home.

I commend the Minister and his officials Mark Winkelmann, Dermot Murphy and John Moloney on the work they have done on the Bill. The Minister has shown a willingness to accept amendments where he saw fit do so. A number of issues remain to be teased out in the other House. The general thrust of the Bill is important for the country as a whole. We have seen evidence of the abuse of animals and the devastation caused by the negligence of individuals. It is important to put animal welfare on a statutory footing. It is also important that the welfare organisations that protect animals have a role.

We really appreciate that the Minister was willing to discuss all the amendments and accept our viewpoints.