Paul Gavan (Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State and the general debate that we are having here this evening because it is quite clear that on a cross-party basis there is widespread support for Senator Boylan's Bill. I commend the Senator. As others have already said, she is really passionate and very knowledgeable about animal welfare issues. She has produced a very practical Bill this evening. The challenge for us, and it is a challenge that we have met before, is to unite around a common cause. I appeal to the Minister of State that, when responding, she give a commitment that her Government will facilitate this Bill's quick passage through all Stages in the Seanad. It is a very simple Bill on which we all agree and there are no complicating factors.

As others have said I did not know that when animals are seized in welfare cases they face months and sometimes years in an animal shelter until the case in completed. I do not think that the general public know that and if they did then they would find it entirely unacceptable. I am a passionate dog owner and I hope that my 15-year-old dog, Blossom, has tuned in this evening. If so, she is giving up watching the World Cup semi-final and that is the level of commitment we need to see.