Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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2699.To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development for an update on the work being carried out by the stakeholders’ group on control of dogs issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33299/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department has policy and legislative responsibility for the Control of Dogs Acts and the Dog Breeding Establishments Act.

In March 2024 I announced the establishment of a high level stakeholder group to consider and make recommendations to strengthen policy in relation these issues. The group is independently chaired by retired Deputy Garda Commissioner Mr John Twomey and is comprised of members with a broad range of expertise.

The group have been tasked with considering the policy and legislative matters under the remit of my Department, specifically the Dog Control Acts and the Dog Breeding Establishments Act.

The group has met twice to date: the most recent meeting took place on the 26th June. The work of the stakeholder group is complex in nature requiring full consideration of all aspects of both pieces of legislation under the remit of my Department and this will take some time. However, in view of recent events, I asked the Chair to prioritise the issue of Restricted Dogs and this was the first issue to be considered by the stakeholder group at its recent meeting.

Following consultation with the chairperson of the Stakeholder Group on Dog Control, I announced the ban on XL Bullies in the interest of public safety, following a number of recent horrific attacks by XL Bullies.

I am bringing in regulations to ban the breeding, sale, rehoming and import of XL Bully dogs from 1st October 2024.

These new regulations will ensure that, from October, nobody in the State can take ownership of these dangerous dogs and that it will be illegal to breed, sell, import, rehome, exchange, gift or abandon XL Bully dogs.

Secondly, I will be bringing in a system of certification for existing owners of XL Bully dogs. Over the period 1st October 2024 to 1st February 2025 all existing XL Bully owners will have to apply for a Certificate of Exemption.

Certificates of Exemption will be issued subject to strict criteria, including a requirement for licensing, microchipping and neutering. Other possible criteria will be discussed with the Stakeholder Group on Dog Control put in place to advise on these issues.

The Stakeholder Group on Dog Control will continue its work and will inform any necessary future actions with regard to dog control.