Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 799: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government the reason he appointed no women to the working group which he established to examine breeding establishments and puppy farms as there are a large number of women involved in the breeding and rearing of dogs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27667/06]

Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
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The Working Group which was established to review the management of dog breeding establishments comprised representatives from a cross section of relevant organisations. Regrettably, no woman was among the representatives nominated by these organisations, and in view of the urgency of advancing the work the group as constituted was mandated to proceed.

There were two separate public consultation processes associated with the review. As part of its deliberations, the working group itself invited submissions from interested persons and bodies by way of public notice in the national newspapers. In addition, following receipt of the group's report, an advertisement inviting submissions was also placed in the national newspapers by my Department. The responses received included many submissions from women and I am satisfied that all interested persons had adequate opportunity to make their views known to me.