Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation
Dail Éireann — 2026-05-20
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Jennifer Whitmore (SD), Wicklow

Yesterday the Government announced new rules and legislation regarding puppy farming. This is very welcome because for far too long, this and previous Governments have ignored animal welfare issues. However, there is a glaring omission in the legislation and that is the mention of a cap. Is it still the case that puppy farms will be able to have 300 female dogs breeding on site and potentially thousands of pups? If it is, then that is a huge flaw in the legislation. Last December the Social Democrats brought forward a Bill that had a cap included. The Taoiseach has been talking about cheap politics here today and he is constantly talking about how the Opposition does not offer positive solutions. In December we brought forward a Bill and Government Ministers, on the floor of this Dáil, asked us not to bring that Bill to a vote because they wanted to work with us on it. I have had no communication regarding the Bill in the last five or six months. That is not good enough.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-05-20/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-09-28T05:50:47+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-05-20