Erin McGreehan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This morning I wish to highlight a despicable physical assault on a Wicklow farmer, Pat Dunne, who has for more than 15 years allowed walkers across his land. He asked walkers last week not to bring their dogs. Unfortunately, that appeal was not adhered to or listened to, and he was physically assaulted.

I have raised the matter of dog kills and dog walkers in recreational areas in the Cooley Mountains before. Every single week I hear from farmers in the Cooley Mountains of either dog kills or verbal assaults on farmers, who are told, "We are allowed to have our dogs here and should be allowed to let them roam around unhindered and uninterrupted." When people go onto farmland or mountainous commonage, shareholders' or owners' land, with their dogs unleashed and uncontrolled, they are potentially killers. I do not know if anyone in this House has ever come across a dog kill. It is absolutely horrendous. My family have been affected by dog kills several times and it is horrendous. You never get over it. Sheep do not get over it.

I call again for a debate on this issue in this House to get an update from the Department on what it will do to prevent this. This is a welfare issue. If it were the sheep killing the dogs, we would sort out the sheep quick smart. This needs to get sorted because there will be more physical attacks on farmers. We talk about people's mental health. This is suffering. People are suffering. Animals are suffering. It is incredibly stressful for farmers. I wish to highlight that there was another dog kill on a sheep farmer yesterday. How many more do we need until we have some control over this?