Chris Andrews (Sinn Fein)

I do not believe for a second that dog bans work for a variety of reasons. I do not have the time to go into it now. The key point is that the appeal process afforded to private dog owners should be afforded to rescues and pounds. However, because of the vague language in the legislation proposed, such as the use of the word "type", it encompasses all bully breeds and that is going to have a really negative impact because many of the dog wardens do not have the training that is required to identify a dog. They have not had the training in the past and there are no plans to have dog wardens trained in the future for identifying dogs. That language then leaves it open to interpretation. I honestly feel that the Minister is on the right track but we need to refine the language to ensure that dogs in pounds and rescues also have the ability to get an exemption.