THERE HAS BEEN a “positive cross-party response” to the Social Democrats Dog Welfare (Amendment) Bill, which seeks to introduce stricter regulations of dog breeders. 

Describing it as a significant step in the right direction for animal rights in Ireland, Wicklow TD Jennifer Whitmore welcomed that the government agreed to shorten the delay to a Bill to nine months. 

The proposed legislation was debated in the Dáil today, where TDs raised concerns about animal cruelty and how some dog breeders “exploit” families in the run up to Christmas.

For breeding dogs, the proposed legislation seeks to introduce a 16-month minimum age for breeding and a maximum of one litter per year per breeding female, as well as a maximum of four litters per breeding female during her lifetime.

Whitmore has described Ireland as being “the puppy farm capital of Europe”, as 30,000 dogs are exported annually to illegal markets in the UK and Europe.

She said the number of dogs taken into Irish pounds was because of “weak” regulation under the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010.

“It means females as young as four months can be bred, with no maximum age, and they can have up to six litters in their lifetimes,” she said.

“This is something that people want to see action on, and it doesn’t matter what party they support,” she said.

During the Dáil debate, TDs criticised that surgical artificial insemination remained legal under statute despite the Irish Veterinary Council banning it under its code of practice.

‘Cruelty behind closed doors’

TDs said that the current dog breeding system allowed “cruelty behind closed doors” and said the debate on introducing stricter rules should not be reduced to a “city versus country culture war”.

Green Party leader Roderic O’Gorman criticised the government’s move to delay the Bill, and said it should be passed within the lifetime of the government.

Independent TD Richard O’Donoghue said that the majority of dog breeders are “doing it right” and said that resources for proper animal welfare enforcement had never been provided.

Independent Ireland leader Michael Collins warned of families being exploited by some dog breeders coming up to the Christmas period.

“Leading organisations across Ireland have issued strong warnings about buying dogs from breeders during the festival period, the ISPCA has highlighted that puppy farmers exploit the Christmas rush, producing litters in poor conditions without proper care, vaccinations or microchipping.”

Social Democrat TD Rory Hearne disclosed to the Dáil that he is a cat owner, but said he believed other cat owners – and his own cat – approved of the legislation.

“I was sitting this morning with my cat listening to Deputy Whitmore on Morning Ireland, and the cat meowed at me, and I think she meowed in approval though I’m not quite sure,” he said.

Whitmore welcomed that Minister of State Noel Grealish indicated that the government are willing to work with her party to address this critical animal welfare issue.

She said a public consultation and the development of a new Animal Welfare Strategy 2026-2030 will now take place, and she is going to keep pushing the government to keep their promises.

With reporting by Press Association