Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 May 2026
901. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to conduct a review of dog breeds legislation, with a view to replacing it with proportionate, breed-neutral measures that promote public safety while recognising responsible ownership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39432/26]
View answerLast year, all policy and legislative responsibility for the Control of Dogs Acts and the Dog Breeding Establishment Act transferred to my Department.
I recently brought my Dog Breeding Establishment Bill to strengthen animal welfare standards and promote ethical practices in the dog breeding sector before Cabinet where it was approved for priority drafting. The general scheme will now be referred to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine for pre-legislative scrutiny.
In 2024, a high-level Dog Control Stakeholder Group was established to review the Control of Dogs Acts and the Dog Breeding Establishments Act. Its remit was to consider policy and legislative matters in relation to those Acts and consider any need for legislative change. The stakeholder group was comprised of members with a broad range of expertise including academics, veterinary surgeons, local authorities, farming interests, charities working in the field and animal welfare experts. I have recently received the report of the Dog Control Stakeholder Group, which I am considering, including any recommendations in relation to dog control legislation.
