Control of Dogs
Seanad Éireann — 2026-02-26
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Martin Heydon (FG), Kildare South

I thank the Senator for raising this really important matter and assure him and all Members of the Seanad of my commitment to improving the traceability of dogs. Effective traceability is fundamental to safeguarding dog welfare, supporting responsible ownership and strengthening accountability where incidents occur.
The Senator referenced the Irish Natura and Hill Farmers Association, INHFA,. I was in Donegal last Thursday, which is a long way from Kerry, where the association launched a campaign on sheep worrying and dog ownership. The title of the campaign is: "It's not your dog's fault, it's yours". I commend the INHFA on its work in this area and I know the concerns it is raising with the Senator on this point as well. Sheep worrying has a profound impact on farmers and rural communities. I fully recognise the gravity of this issue and agree that robust traceability measures are central to ensuring that dog owners can be held accountable where their animals are involved.
This week, my Department commenced a media awareness campaign urging dog owners to take due care and act responsibly in any instances where there may be a risk to livestock, particularly sheep, as we approach the critical lambing season for the sheep farming community. Responsible dog ownership, including effective control of dogs in a countryside setting, is an important matter. I am invested in making a difference in this area. I look forward, along with my Department, to engaging proactively in terms of wide-ranging awareness campaigns across relevant platforms throughout 2026 on issues around responsible dog ownership, including sheep worrying.
In response to the Senator’s question on the possible role of DNA in dog traceability, I acknowledge that DNA technology has potential in relation to canine traceability. The use of DNA profiling could, in certain circumstances, assist with linking a dog to a specific incident. Before any decision could be made to mandate DNA sampling and profiling for all dogs, a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis would be required. Such an assessment would need to carefully examine the potential advantages of mandatory DNA profiling compared to the financial costs and operational implications. Mandatory DNA sampling would significantly increase the cost of dog registration for owners. This is an important consideration, particularly in ensuring that compliance remains achievable and proportionate. In addition, the State would incur further expenditure.
Therefore, my immediate focus is on maximising the effectiveness of the existing dog microchipping system before introducing any major new regulatory changes. Strengthening adherence to the rules already in place can deliver immediate and tangible benefits. I believe that where dog owners are educated to understand their legal obligations and the practical benefits of micro-chipping, we can achieve a culture of responsibility and increase the number of dogs in Ireland that are micro-chipped and traceable. A well-functioning microchipping system plays an important role in tackling issues such as sheep worrying as clear identification helps deter irresponsible behaviour and enables more effective enforcement where incidents occur. Through sustained awareness and improved compliance, the existing system can deliver substantial benefits for dog welfare, farming communities and public confidence.
My Department is open to the potential role of DNA in the future development of the canine traceability system. However, it is prudent and responsible to first implement and assess the impact of the planned improvements to centralised data management. I am taking a measured and evidence-based approach to strengthen accountability and deterrence through practical reforms to evaluate their effectiveness in addressing sheep worrying and will only then to consider whether additional measures, which would mean significant cost implications for dog owners and the State, are necessary and proportionate.

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Source: Houses of the Oireachtas. Licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). The Official Report is revised after first publication; the fetch timestamp below identifies the version quoted.

Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-02-26/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:42+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-02-26