Ceisteanna ó na Comhaltaí Eile - Other Members’ Questions
Dail Éireann — 2026-01-22
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Carol Nolan (IND), Offaly

I thank the Tánaiste for his response and the co-operation, which we need urgently. While there is legislation in place, farmers and gardaí are telling me that it is insufficient because it is not giving them enough power. That is where we need to toughen those laws, which I know the Tánaiste is happy to do. He acknowledged that and it is certainly welcome.
However, there is another issue where the current legislation puts the onus on the farmer. A farmer who is possibly being intimidated by a gang - maybe their family is being intimidated too - is expected to get up in court and give evidence. There is a big problem there. As a farmer who endured a distressing ordeal said to me, it is putting the handcuffs on the landowner when they should be on the trespasser.
I want to mention a related issue that is becoming deeply disturbing. Farmers have informed me that dogs are being deliberately set on sheep. Earlier this week, Senator Paul Daly held an audiovisual room briefing about attacks on sheep. I have heard disturbing reports that this is being done deliberately. We need to crack down on and be much tougher on this issue.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-01-22/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:32+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-01-22