The Government is consulting the Attorney General on what legislative changes would have to be made for a ban on XL Bully dogs, the Minister for Social Protection has said.
No dog breed is banned in Ireland – unlike in Britain – where it is a criminal offence to own an XL Bully unless the owner has a valid exemption certificate.
However, there are a number of breeds in Ireland, including XL Bullies, that are restricted.
We need your consent to load this comcast-player contentWe use comcast-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
The breeds include American, English and Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Bull Mastiffs, Doberman dogs, German Shepherds, Japanese Akita and Tosa, Rhodesian Ridgebacks and Rottweilers.
Speaking in the Seanad chamber this afternoon, Heather Humphreys said that Heather Humphreys said that work is already under way on examining how an XL Bully ban in Ireland would work.
“I know some people will not like hearing this today,” she said.
“They will tell me that they own an XL Bully and it would never hurt anybody. I can’t ignore the facts.
“The XL Bully was the dog involved in the attack on Alejandro Mizsan in Wexford and it was also the dog involved in the attack in Limerick last week which killed Nicole Morey.
“We all love our dogs, but no dog’s life is worth more than human life.”
She added that the Government would not oppose a Private Members’ Bill put forward by six senators calling for further dog controls.
Minister Humphreys had previously said if the new stakeholder group on dog control recommends banning a certain breed, she would abide by its suggestion.
She added she was very conscious of public concern over dog control.
‘Clear need for action’ – Taoiseach
We need your consent to load this comcast-player contentWe use comcast-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
Speaking earlier, Taoiseach Simon Harris said he would like to see a ban on the XL Bully dog and that there is a “clear need” for government action.
He said the issues around this breed of dog will be discussed at a meeting of the Cabinet as he expressed his sympathies to the family of Nicole Morey, who died after being attacked by an XL Bully dog in Co Limerick.
Mr Harris also said he would like to see the work carried out by the taskforce that was established to examine the issues.
