Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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639. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the specific date when he expects the publication, and entry into force, of the regulations banning the use of dogs and cats electronic shock collars operated by hand-held remote controls. [56724/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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The use of remotely controlled electronic shock collars in dogs and cats has been banned in several European countries on the grounds of animal welfare. The Advisory Council on Companion Animal Welfare, which was established by my Department under an independent chair, as part of my Department's wider animal welfare strategy, advises me on animal welfare matters and considered the question of whether the use of remotely controlled electronic shock collars on dogs and cats ought to be banned in Ireland.

As part of this process, my Department held a public consultation, in 2024, with the results available here: gov - Animal Welfare (www.gov.ie).

The proposed ban in Ireland relates only to the use of electronic shock collars which are operated by a hand-held remote control. It does not relate to the use of collars which are part of a fencing/containment system to prevent straying or to anti-bark collars. The Regulation will provide for those currently using these shock collars on their dogs to register with the department, provide the dog’s microchip ID and dog licence number, and continue to use the collars for the lifetime of that dog.

My Department is working on the regulation and I anticipate it will be published in due course.