Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Many sheep farmers across the country have had the horrendous experience of finding their animals, be they cattle or sheep, savaged by stray dogs. Figures recorded from 2020 show that there were 241 such instances, but farmers are of the firm belief that the true figures are much greater and that there is an awful lot of non-reporting because farmers are not convinced that the authorities are taking this seriously. Farmers provide full traceability for 7 million cattle and 3 million breeding sheep, whereby every single animal is individually tagged and traceable to the person responsible or the owner. Contrast that with an estimated 800,000 dogs in this country, of which only 208,000 are licensed. That leaves 600,000 without identification. In 2020 there were only 82 prosecutions and 198 dogs were seized under the Control of Dogs Act 1986. These figures indicate how serious a problem we have. Farmers are very frustrated that the authorities are taking a very lax attitude to this problem. Owning a dog, as we all know, is a responsibility that needs to be taken seriously. Unfortunately, many dog owners do not do that. The dogs need to be properly microchipped and ID'd. We need proper and appropriate sanctions for those owners found to be non-compliant and to allow their dogs to stray. We also need the proper resources to help those who are enforcing the law in this regard.

We are now entering what is traditionally the lambing season. I ask that the Deputy Leader facilitate the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, to come before the Chamber to update us all as to where the promised legislation on this issue is. The issue needs to be addressed once and for all.