Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 October 2025
103. Deputy Robert O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the measures being taken to strengthen existing animal welfare laws and enforcement mechanisms; if his Department intends to engage with campaign representatives to progress the aims of Stout's law (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55118/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraDeputy George Lawlor on Question No. 103
This question is to ask whether the Minister will outline the measures being taken to strengthen existing animal welfare laws and enforcement mechanisms and whether his Department intends to engage with campaign representatives to progress the aims of the proposed Stout's law and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I thank the Deputy. Neglect of, or causing unnecessary suffering to, animals is not acceptable in our society in any circumstances. The programme for Government places a positive emphasis on animal welfare and specifically commits to the continued robust enforcement of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, which provides a modern framework for regulating and applying standards in the area of animal health and welfare. In my first term as a TD between 2011 and 2016, I was a member of the agriculture committee. I remember the many weeks of work on that comprehensive legislation. It brought together so many historical items of legislation under one Act.
My Department has lead responsibility within the Government for animal welfare and takes the matter of animal welfare most seriously. I am committed to the policy that animal welfare standards are vigorously applied in a fair and even-handed manner. All reports of alleged animal neglect or cruelty are investigated and appropriate action is taken. My Department, and authorised officers appointed under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, including, but not limited to, An Garda Síochána, customs agents and local authorities, undertake appropriate enforcement action, where breaches or shortcomings are identified. My Department keeps the Act under review in light of key developments in the area of animal welfare, the legislative environment more generally and having regard to the practical lessons learned from operating the Act.
Policy and legislative responsibility for dog breeding establishments transferred to my Department on 1 August 2025. Local authorities retain responsibility for all operational implementation and enforcement matters. A high level stakeholder group was established last year to consider policy and legislative matters, specifically the Control of Dogs Acts and the Dog Breeding Establishments Act.
The stakeholder group's remit includes considering the need for legislative change. This requires in-depth analysis and consultation to ensure that amendments are not just robust, fit for purpose and implementable but also deliver the best outcome for communities.
I thank the Minister for his supportive words. This proposed campaign was inspired by a young pup called Stout who suffered from severe health difficulties arising from malnutrition, poor breeding practice and the unsanitary conditions that he was kept in. The campaign is led by two people in Wexford - Tara O'Connor and Kevin Keegan. They are proposing some reasonable legislation and that the legislation would be amended to place a more exacting standard on dog breeders. They believe legislation must mandate a firm commitment on the part of dog breeders to safeguard the welfare of the animal with an explicit reference to freedom from discomfort and freedom to express normal behaviour. In the legal context, pets currently fall under the definition of "personal property". Stout's law aims to redefine pets as beings with intrinsic needs. Backyard breeders tend to escape oversight and potential incidents of mistreatment can only come to light where, for instance, neighbours raise concerns. There is no dedicated Garda unit to deal with animal cruelty. Dog breeding establishment guidelines deal with important issues, including animal housing, hygiene, exercise and registration, but it is important that the enforcement of the guidelines is in place. Local authorities, despite their best efforts, are not in a position to ensure enforcement as much as we would like.
My Department is committed to reviewing all legislation relating to dogs, and in this regard it will be guided by the recommendations of the dog control stakeholder group. I expect the group to revert to me with recommendations on the matter in due course. In the meantime, I am fully committed to progressing the work in this area. My Department is also aware of the campaign the Deputy references and will consider all views when reviewing legislation. It is very important that if members of the public are aware of any issues of suspected abuse or neglect, they contact my Department. We have a helpline phone number and a direct email address through which any fears people have are dealt with in a very confidential manner and are investigated and followed up. That is very important for people to know as well.
Regulations for cats and dogs are being worked on at present on an EU-wide level. My Department is currently engaged in consultation with other member states on new proposals on European regulations on the welfare and traceability of dogs and cats. This includes provisions to ensure the breeding strategies do not include genotypes that have a detrimental effect on the health and welfare of dogs and cats. When that regulation is passed, it will be applicable to all member states, including Ireland.
I welcome what has been said about the high level group. As it stands, the 2010 Act permits upwards of 300 breeding dogs on a site. It also outlines that one full-time staff member to 25 breeding bitches is sufficient. We are looking for a more sensible number of breeding bitches and we believe that 15 is a sensible cap that would enable breeders to run a proper sanitation programme and perform regular welfare acts on all the animals. The staff-to-dog ratio should be set at 1:15 and this should be set out in the legislation as opposed to being contained in dog breeding establishment guidelines. The cap on breeding bitches that is specified should only increase in tandem with the staff headcount, to guarantee that minimum standards of animal healthcare are met.
We have a serious problem in Ireland with animal welfare in breeding establishments. This is something we simply have to grab by the scruff of the neck and tackle. I welcome the Minister's comments in that regard.
We are reviewing the legislation. This is a responsibility that has come into my domain in recent months. As a Deputy who was part of the negotiating team for the programme for Government, and having been a Minister of State in the Department of agriculture, I was really keen for this to come under the remit of agriculture. I thought it was the right fit and that it is the right place for it to be. Mindful that I might be in this role, this is something I was very keen to see in the Department's remit. I am glad it is there and I want to work on it and progress it during my time as Minister.
Deputy Lawlor referred to the sale of pets. My Department previously introduced a statutory instrument, the Animal Health and Welfare (Sale or Supply of Pet Animals) Regulations. The regulations put into law certain requirements for sellers and suppliers of pet animals, including the minimum age for the sale of certain mammals, record keeping, registration with my Department and the provision of specific information about pets in advertisements. Under these regulations, anyone who sells or supplies six or more pet animals in a year must register with my Department and must submit an inspection report signed by a private veterinary practitioner as part of the registration process. We will review every measure and make sure that, if it is not as robust as we would like, we will change it and make it more robust. I look forward to working with Deputy Lawlor on this.
