Ministers meet in Dublin on range of animal health and welfare and dog control measures

Minister Michelle Gildernew MP, MLA today met with her two Dublin counterparts to discuss common issues on animal health and welfare and dog control.

At a meeting with John Gormley TD, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Minister Gildernew outlined her plans for a new Dog Control Bill. And later the same day the Minister discussed with Brendan Smith TD, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, their respective Diseases of Animals and Welfare of Animals legislative programmes.

Minister Gildernew said: “Dog control legislation is one of my key priorities and we discussed with Minister Gormley our respective approaches on legislation for dog control on the island of Ireland and the new Bills that we are taking forward. I am reassured that the existing dog control legislation on the island is broadly similar, including the requirement for licensing.

“I am currently finalising policy for new dog control legislation which will include allowing dog wardens to place tighter controls on aggressive dogs of whatever breed, where they give cause for concern, and this will bring our respective legislation even closer.

"Another of my proposals is for compulsory micro-chipping of all dogs. Similarly, Minister Gormley has proposals for regulation of dog breeding establishments, including plans to make micro-chipping of all dogs they sell a requirement of the new licensing arrangements in the South. Breeding is already regulated in the North and I am taking new powers in the Welfare of Animals Bill to introduce secondary legislation to further improve welfare standards at dog breeding establishments.”

Speaking after her meeting with Minister Smith, the Minister Gildernew said: “It is important that our primary legislation for animal health and welfare is aligned as we take forward our work on the All Island Animal Health and Welfare Strategy. The aim of this strategy is to facilitate trade by optimising animal health status, leading to the free movement of animals on the island of Ireland.

“It was reassuring to hear that Minister Smith is also strengthening the powers available to him to stop organised animal fighting, particularly dog fighting. This is very much in line with my own proposals. We also explored how we could tighten up on the movements of dangerous dogs on the island and this is something that our respective officials will explore.”

A number of other agriculture issues such as a cross border stakeholder event for animal health and welfare, Sheep Electronic Identification, trade issues, and the importation of bees were also discussed at the meeting with Minister Smith.

Minister Gildernew concluded: "These were very positive meetings and I look forward to continuing contact with our Departments on our respective legislative programmes as our Bills progress.”

Notes to editors:

1. The Diseases of Animals Act 2010 received Royal Assent at the end of January and is expected to become law later this month.
2. The Welfare of Animals Bill and the Dog Control Bill will, subject to the agreement of the Executive, be introduced to the Assembly by May 2010. It will be enacted within the lifetime of the current Assembly by June 2011.
3. Consultation on proposals for a new Dog Control Bill closed on 1 February and the comments are currently being considered before proposals are finalised. The proposals on which the Department consulted included:
   • domestic dogs must be micro-chipped;
   • the dog licence fee should rise to £12.50 (with some concessionary rates) so that councils can recover more of the cost of the dog warden services they provide;
   • certain fines and penalties should be increased; and
   • that councils should be allowed to retain the proceeds from fixed penalties to support the dog warden service, rather than handing them back to central government.
4. All media queries to DARD Press Office, tel: 028 9052 4243. Out of hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.