Puppy-farm bill passes despite threats of revolt
New laws clamping down on puppy farms comfortably passed through the Dail yesterday -- but it won't exclude kennels for hunting dogs from inspections.
And another piece of legislation will have to be passed through the Dail before Christmas to ensure greyhounds are not subject to the new regime.
The Dog Breeding Establishments Bill was passed by 92 votes to 50, as the government parties of Fianna Fail and the Green Party secured the support of the Labour Party and a number of Independents.
Fine Gael and Sinn Fein voted against Environment Minister John Gormley's legislation, which was threatened with a revolt from coalition TDs.
Fianna Fail's John O'Donoghue used the debate to launch an attack on Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore, who forced his resignation as Ceann Comhairle last September.
But Mr O'Donoghue then abstained from the vote, with the Government Chief Whip's office insisting he had permission to be absent.
Independent Fianna Fail TD Mattie McGrath, who lost the party whip last week for voting against the ban on stag hunting, was also missing for the vote.
Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith will have to amend legislation, dating back to 1958, governing the greyhound industry before Christmas to ensure ownership of those dogs is governed by Bord na gCon, the Irish greyhound board.
Greyhound owners will still be subject to inspections if they have more than five female breeding dogs.
But there will be no such different treatment for hunt kennels, despite demands from Independent TDs Michael Lowry and Jackie Healy-Rae for them to be exempted.
Owners of hunting dogs will be exempt from micro-chipping and a €400 fee and Mr Gormley promised there would be a review conducted in a year's time.
The concession was not enough for a prominent lobby group against the animal welfare laws.
The RISE, Rural Ireland Says Enough, campaign said it was disappointed not to secure the exemption of hunt kennels, as it says it was promised in writing by Mr Gormley.
- Fionnan Sheahan Political Editor
Irish Independent
