The Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine will meet tonight (Wednesday) at 5.30pm in Leinster House Committee Room 3 to discuss dangerous dog breeds and the danger they pose to children, livestock and the sheep.
The meeting will be divided into two sessions to hear from Ms. Nanci Creedon, a dog behavior expert, followed by officials from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Department of Rural and Community Development.
Speaking ahead of the meeting, Cathaoirleach Committee MP Jackie Cahill said: “Recent incidents involving attacks by dangerous dog breeds, including the horrific attack which left a boy in Co Wexford with life-changing injuries, are a matter of great public concern. There is similar concern in rural Ireland about the number of dog attacks on sheep, including several recent shocking incidents in Co Tipperary, which are having a traumatic effect on farming families, leaving sheep dead and mutilated.

“This examination of both issues is part of the Committee’s continuing focus on animal welfare. Members look forward to hearing from Ms. Creedon as a dog behavior expert on what are called dangerous dog breeds and from both departments on the current legislative position and implementation of existing laws.”
The Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine has 14 members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.

The meeting in Committee Room 3 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV: https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/oireachtas-tv/cr3-live/ Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the phone app Smart Houses of the Oireachtas, available for Apple and Android devices.
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