Bill to overhaul rules for dog breeding to go to Cabinet 

Protections will include a minimum age at which puppies can be sold 

A minimum age will be put on pups before they can be sold, with various conditions attached as to how and where they can be shown to customers. File picture

A bill aimed at overhauling dog breeding rules will go to Cabinet on Tuesday.

The bill being brought by agriculture Minister Martin Heydon targets sales practices that can lead to poor outcomes for puppies in terms of socialisation and early development, such as third-party sale after separation from the premises where they were born and reared.

Government sources said it is aimed at giving purchasers "greater confidence and protection when purchasing a dog, ensuring they can see where and how it has been reared".

Protections will include lower limits on litter numbers, minimum and maximum breeding age limits, methods of breeding, mandatory living requirements and minimum staffing ratios for breeding females on site for commercial dog breeding establishments.

A minimum age will be put on pups before they can be sold, with various conditions attached as to how and where they can be shown to customers. Other changes to be introduced by the Bill include significantly strengthened enforcement tools such as seizure powers as well as a stronger fines and penalties.

Meanwhile, public expenditure minister Jack Chambers will tell Cabinet that the Greater Dublin Drainage Scheme will be delivered a year earlier as a result of Government changes introduced this year.

As part of a progress report update, he will say that six months has been saved on the Waterford wastewater treatment plant as a direct result of infrastructure reforms Government has introduced.

Also at Cabinet, further education minister James Lawless will propose the appointment of five new "Talent and Innovation Attachés", bringing the total global network to seven.

The new roles are planned for the UK, France, Germany, Singapore and South Africa, to "strengthen Ireland’s international links in research, talent and higher education".

Ireland currently has attachés in Boston and San Francisco.

Also at Cabinet, minister for children, disability and equality orma Foley will seek approval for the appointment of the new Special Rapporteur on Child Protection. The term of Caoilfhionn Gallagher, the previous Special Rapporteur on Child Protection, came to an end on January 31 this year.

• Paul Hosford is Deputy Political Editor.