Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 148: To ask the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government when he will introduce new regulations restricting the rights of persons to own dangerous breeds of dogs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42374/09]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Control of Dogs Regulations 1998 place controls on the following ten breeds of dogs : American Pit Bull Terrier, Bull Mastiff, Doberman Pinscher, English Bull Terrier, German Shepherd (Alsatian), Japanese Akita, Japanese Tosa, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Rottweiler, Staffordshire Bull Terrier and every type of dog commonly known as a Ban Dog (or Bandog).

The controls, which must be observed when the dog is in a public place, require that these dogs, or strains or crosses thereof, must be kept on a short lead by a person over 16 years of age who is capable of controlling them and that they be securely muzzled. Furthermore the Control of Dogs Act 1986 gives specific powers to the courts to order that a dog, which the court considers dangerous, must be kept under control or be destroyed. It is a matter for the Gardaí and the local authority to deal with enforcement of the regulations. I do not propose to introduce new regulations at this time.