Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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509. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the bodies that were consulted when drafting the list of restricted breeds included in the Control of Dogs Regulations 1998 and the basis on which these particular breeds were included as opposed to any other breeds of dog. [32819/14]

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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510. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the analysis that has been carried out by his Department as to the efficacy of the new regime in relation to restricted dog breeds that was introduced under the Control of Dogs Regulations 1998 in reducing the incidence of dog bites. [32820/14]

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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511. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government the reviews his Department has conducted of the international evidence as to the effectiveness of breed specific legislation in controlling potentially dangerous dogs; if his attention has been drawn to the international trend away from breed specific dog control legislation in recent years; his views that the restrictions imposed by the legislation can result in serious distress, both psychological and physical, to the dogs concerned and thereby constitute a breech of accepted international animal welfare norms; his views that the breed specific model now needs to be replaced with a regime that places the emphasis on the owner's responsibility to keep their dogs, regardless of breed, under appropriate control and supervision at all times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32821/14]

Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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512. To ask the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government if he will commission an independent evaluation of the domestic and international evidence regarding breed specific dog legislation with inputs from reputable bodies such as the ISPCA, Veterinary Ireland and Dogs Trust and commit to acting on the outcome of that evaluation. [32822/14]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 509 to 512, inclusive, together.

The Control of Dogs Regulations 1998 require that certain breeds of dogs, and other strains or crosses of those breeds, shall be securely muzzled and led by a sufficiently strong chain or leash, not exceeding two metres in length, by a person over the age of sixteen years who is capable of controlling the said dog, when it is in a public place. These specific control requirements in relation to certain breeds were introduced as a balanced and workable arrangement which recognises the rights of dog owners, while also taking account of the needs of society to be protected from dogs with a significant capability to inflict very serious injury. Consultation in relation to these regulations included the Irish Kennel Club, the ISPCA, the Irish Veterinary Association, the Irish Veterinary Union, the Association of Dog Wardens, the Search and Rescue Dog Association (Ireland), the Irish Guide Dogs Association and Bord na gCon.

Several jurisdictions have addressed the matter of restrictions of particular breeds of dogs in a similar way to Ireland. England, Northern Ireland, France and New Zealand all have similar restrictions on specific breeds of dog.

The overall thrust of dog control legislation in Ireland, primarily the Control of Dogs Act 1986, is to place the onus on dog owners to act responsibly by keeping their dogs under effectual control. Such responsible dog ownership is the key to reducing incidences of dog biting and other problem behaviours.

While I do not plan at this point to launch a review of dog control legislation, I will continue to monitor the position regarding these issues, including restrictions on certain breeds, and to receive feedback on these matters.