Lynn Boylan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I reiterate what I said before the Easter break about the urgency required on the part of the Minister for Justice in signing the statutory instrument to put in place a waiver for legal fees for the families of victims of the Stardust fire. This is a matter of urgency.

I will use my time to refer to an article in the weekend newspapers regarding the microchipping of dogs. The article rightly pointed out the absolute need for microchipping and to encourage all dog owners to ensure that their family pets are microchipped. It is not only the law, it is also the single best step that people can take to ensure that they can be reunited with their pets if they are stolen or lost. I encourage anybody who has not had their dog microchipped to get it done. The article to which I refer did not, however, state that the current microchipping system is not fit for purpose and must be improved. We have four separate databases in this regard that are not linked to each other. Many pet owners are also not aware of the need to update the database when their pet dies, either through euthanasia or as a result of an accident, for example. Therefore we do not even have a complete audit of the number of dogs in the country. It is the same with the information on the Europetnet. I ask people if they want a dog to go to a rescue centre but if they buy online, they are advised to check the Europetnet database. All that database indicates is that the animal is a dog. There is no description or indication of age or gender. It is not fit for purpose.

It is the law in this country for dog owners to have licences for their animals and to have them microchipped but the two items of legislation are completely separate and do not work together. I could go to the An Post website today to get a dog licence without having to include the microchip details of my dog. I have been informed by animal welfare organisations which deal with this matter on a daily basis that individuals are obtaining dog licences hours before going to animal welfare offices to try to claim ownership of dogs. I am seeking that the Ministers responsible for agriculture and rural and community development come before this House to engage in a debate on achieving a robust, fit-for-purpose central microchipping database in this country.