Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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219. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the dog control stakeholder group will publish its report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17468/26]

Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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220. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when his Department will publish the results of the public consultation of the dog breeding regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17469/26]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 219 and 220 together.

The Dog Control Stakeholder Group was established to consider policy and legislative matters, specifically in relation to the Dog Control Acts and the Dog Breeding Establishments Act. The group’s remit includes considering the need for legislative change. I am committed to reviewing all legislation relating to dogs and in this regard will be guided by the recommendations of the group. I expect the dog control stakeholder group to revert to me with recommendations shortly.

My Department has started a process to develop a new Animal Welfare Strategy. The new Animal Welfare Strategy will act as a framework for engagement and collaboration to direct future activities with the aim of benefiting both animals and Irish society. A non-statutory public consultation ran to January 2nd this year to inform the development of this Strategy. As a non-statutory consultation, it is not intended to publish individual submissions, however the input received will culminate in the new Strategy being developed, agreed and published in Q2 2026.

My Department is not aware of a public consultation on the dog breeding regulations.