George Lawlor
Wexford · Labour Party · Ireland
“I commend my colleague, Deputy Eoghan Kenny, on bringing this motion to the floor of the Dáil. One line from his contribution this morning is at the nub of everything, where he said, "Poverty should never determine potential." That is the key component of this motion.”
“The ESRI and University of Limerick found that three in ten secondary schools mandate digital devices, including 17% of DEIS schools - the very schools serving families least able to absorb these costs.”
“Parents who are already struggling with rising rents, food prices and energy costs are now being told that, without a laptop, their child will fall behind. It is shameful that the State's own free book scheme savings are being wiped out by digital demands that schools have no business imposing without the proper funding.”
“We are calling for enforceable guidelines, proper ICT funding, a national loan scheme, the removal of exam fees, the reversal of transport fee hikes, the restoration of the back-to-school allowance and a ban on voluntary contributions that are voluntary in name only. Families cannot take any more.”
“At the outset, I would like to join, as everyone here has, in warmly welcoming to Leinster House Cian and Jordan Adams, the FTB brothers, and also Cian's partner, Helen, who played such a vital and key role in the whole 33 marathons in 33 days. They are most welcome.”
“The programme for Government commitment, in particular the statutory home care scheme, must be something we seriously look at bringing into being following its insertion in multiple programmes for Government.”
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“When people have the ability to work remotely or stagger their hours, we see fewer cars on the roads and a transport network that can, if invested in, function as originally intended. We must not keep asking workers to absorb the cost of the inefficiencies created by the State itself. We must not keep pretending long commutes are an unavoidable fact of Irish life; they are not. They are a policy failure, and we in this Chamber have the power to correct it. This motion is about dignity. It is about recognising that time is a finite resource and that no worker should be forced to sacrifice it unnecessarily. It is also about creating a future for workers in which flexibility is the norm and not some sort of bequest from the boss.”
“Hours are stolen from them and their families, affecting productivity and the very quality of life that we as a country claim to value. We often speak in this Chamber about supporting working people and building a modern and competitive country, yet we continue to tolerate a system that is sapping the energy of workers and punishing them simply for trying to earn a living. Flexible working is not, and certainly should not be, a luxury. It must not be a favour granted by employers when convenient; it is a practical, evidence-based response to the realities of modern life in this country. It would most certainly reduce congestion, lower stress, improve employee retention, give people better access to employment and allow people time to become immersed in their communities rather than festering in tailback after tailback.”
“Even the Minister of State will agree that the Government’s counter-motion is particularly poor and disappointing. The journey from my county, Wexford, and so many others, and indeed parts of Dublin, has become a daily test of endurance. Whether workers are trapped in endless tailbacks on the M11 or squeezed onto overcrowded trains that take much longer than they should, they are paying the price for a system that cannot and does not meet what they require simply to get to work. Hours upon hours are lost before the workday even begins, simply destroying workers’ quality of life. The commute is not just inconvenient; it is unsustainable. People are doing everything right but the infrastructure around them is absolutely failing. No workers should have to fight as hard as they do just to get to their jobs.”
“We need to go hard to send the signal to every sector that dereliction and blights on our landscape and on our housing lists, seen by people walking by derelict houses every day of the week, will not be tolerated any more. The Minister has received some criticism here today but I have known him for a long time and hope he is the Minister to ensure these blights on our housing lists and our communities are removed once and for all and we can stand in this Chamber and say we are achieving something for the betterment of this nation and its people.”
“We need to get the problem-solvers into the system. I agree with Deputy Hearne that we need the compulsory sales order. It is a no-brainer. We cannot continue with CPOs. We need to inflict - I deliberately use the word "inflict" - compulsory sale orders on these blights and eyesores on our community. The housing problem is a huge and important issue and the thrust of Deputy Gould's Bill, but it is only one part of it. If we are sending the signal to our authorities they can have a derelict hospital or a derelict building left there for 20 years, what are the other guys who own derelict sites thinking? They are asking why they should get rid of their derelict sites if other such sites are lying there.”
“We facilitate that by letting it lie there for 20 years in case the defunct business comes back into being. That is ludicrous and indefensible. Local authorities are afraid for their lives of derelict properties. I am more than a little disappointed to hear it will be 2027 before the derelict properties tax comes into place. We need immediate action. Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann came to Wexford town and I was involved in its executive committee. There were a number of derelict buildings along Wexford's main street. Anthony Bailey, our manager, looked at these and said we could not have 8,000 people coming to Wexford. We CPOed a number of the buildings. We did so because our town centre needed to look its best as the nation and world descended on it. It was action by a proactive member of Wexford's local authority that brought that about.”
“I asked if anything could be done and part of the response I got was that the company that owned it had been dissolved since 19 October 2007 but could be restored to the company register up to 20 years after that date. If restored, any property it held would revert to the company as if it had never been dissolved. In law, a derelict site that belonged to a company that was dissolved in 2007 can lie derelict for 20 years for fear the company may somehow be reinvigorated, at which point it will revert back to the company's ownership. That is ludicrous. Legislation that this Chamber has introduced will allow a property to lie derelict - a dangerous property that children are breaking into, a swimming pool full of stagnant water, chairs, tables and "Space Invader" machines.”
“There has been no intervention whatsoever by Government over years. Do not ask me why because it is a complete eyesore rotting in the heart of Wexford Town. What could be done with it now I do not know. There is a preservation order on it that has served nothing but to make it derelict because the HSE was not going to spend the extra money needed on a preserved building. Let me give an example of some of the stumbling blocks I am talking about. I submitted a question to the Minister for public expenditure and reform on 19 March 2025 in relation to Hookless Village in Wexford - a completely derelict leisure centre, bar and swimming pool. The Minister has probably seen photographs of it.”
“I will give an example of a site on Clonard Road in Wexford. The Minister will be familiar with the area. A derelict site notice was put up on 10 February 2025. Five minutes ago I texted the person who brought it to my attention. Nothing has been done. I draw it back to my belief that councils are afraid to engage in any way, shape or form in resolving the problem of dereliction. In many respects, when we look at some State agencies it is no wonder people leave properties derelict. Another property the Minister will be familiar with is Wexford General Hospital. It is one of the worst derelict sites in County Wexford. The HSE has sat idly by and let a wonderful property that has a history to it go completely derelict, so much so that it is now on the Abandoned Ireland website.”
“The scourge of dereliction in the time of a housing crisis is, as was said, antisocial at best and a scandal. Many of the problems we face today predate the Minister's tenure as Minister for housing. I have served with the Minister on Wexford County Council. In my experience councils are afraid of their lives to go anywhere near derelict sites. Every time we bring proposals for remediating a particular property or doing something with a derelict site there always seems to be a problem. There always seems to be a difficulty. There always seems to be some stumbling block that a council cannot get over. One of the things the Minister needs to do in his Department is surround himself with problem solvers because in my experience over the years there are too many problem finders all across sectors of our Government, be it local or national.”
“We have to ensure that platforms that feel they can operate without consequences get the message very directly that there will be no hiding place for their ambivalence or inaction. AI in the wrong hands can do dreadful things but in the right hands - in responsible hands - it can save lives, expand opportunity and strengthen our society. Let us in this Chamber and in this Oireachtas ensure that Ireland stands as a global leader in ethical AI. It is our responsibility but we must act with the urgency the times we live in demand.”
“Digital literacy is now a form of safeguarding. Despite the dangers, I certainly remain optimistic because AI, with proper governance, can be a force for extraordinary good. We should invest in AI tools that protect, not exploit. AI can empower people with disabilities with real-time captioning for the deaf, AI powered mobility aids for the visually impaired and communication tools for people with speech impairments. That is AI at its best, expanding human capability. We cannot stop the AI revolution, nor should we want to but we can shape it. We can use our powers to guide it. We can ensure that it serves humanity rather than harms it. The question is not whether AI will change society. It already has.”
“AI can also generate convincing fake news, fake speeches and fake evidence and, as a result, democracies are vulnerable. A society is judged by how it protects its most vulnerable. Women and children are disproportionately targeted by AI enabled abuse. That is a fact we must confront. Ireland must lead with strong, modern legislation. We must establish clear rights for victims, including rapid take-down mechanisms and legal recourse. We have already seen that we cannot rely on voluntary codes of conduct. We need enforceable laws. AI does not respect borders and neither should our response. We simply cannot do it alone. We have to work with the EU, the UN, and international partners. It is also imperative that we equip parents, teachers and young people with the knowledge to recognise and report AI enabled abuse.”
“The ability to adjust the level of nudity was particularly impressive, allowing for a customized outcome. What an amazing review of such a deviant app. We must condemn, in the strongest possible terms, any platform that treats safety as an afterthought. We must condemn any AI system that trivialises harm or enables exploitation. We must absolutely condemn the culture of "move fast and break things" when what are being broken are people's lives. We must most definitely ensure that the people responsible face the rigours of the law and face criminal conviction. We, as a Parliament, must show in the strongest possible terms, using every available power we have, that we cannot and will not tolerate AI systems that facilitate abuse, harassment or exploitation. We must hold platforms accountable legally, financially and morally.”
“AI generated child abuse imagery is child abuse and is absolutely a criminal offence and must be punished. The harm is real. The Grok app on the X platform has become a symbol of this irresponsibility. Its design choices and its willingness to generate inappropriate, sexualised and harmful content have demonstrated a profound failure of duty. However, Grok is not the only app to facilitate this type of deviant behaviour. A quick Google search this morning revealed a myriad of such apps. A review of one of them stated: Using the app was a surprisingly engaging experience. The interface is user-friendly, making it accessible even for individuals with limited technical skills. I uploaded a simple photo, and within seconds, the AI generated a stunning transformation.”
“There have been cases where teenage girls discover their faces pasted onto pornographic images circulating among classmates. Women have been targeted by ex-partners who use AI tools to create fake sexual content as a form of coercive control. Predators use AI to generate fake child abuse material that is indistinguishable from reality. This is not, as we know, hypothetical. It is happening now and at a frightening scale. The psychological devastation inflicted on victims is profound. Their reputations, their sense of safety and their dignity are all shattered by images that never existed but feel real to everyone who sees them. We must be absolutely clear. AI generated sexual exploitation is sexual exploitation and is absolutely and completely a criminal offence and must be punished.”
“Emergency services can use predictive modelling to allocate resources more effectively. In short, AI can help us build a smarter, more responsive state and community. However, we must also speak with equal clarity about the dangers because the same technology that can diagnose cancer can also generate deepfake child abuse imagery. The same algorithms that can personalise education can also personalise harassment. The same systems that can empower us can also exploit. The sexual exploitation of women and children is the darkest frontier of AI misuse and it is expanding at a terrifying pace. AI can now fabricate hyper realistic images and videos of people - often minors - without their consent. These deepfakes are being used to harass, blackmail and degrade.”
“AI can also be transformative in education and learning. Tools for students with dyslexia, ADHD or autism can level the playing field. In a country which in theory commits itself to opportunity for all, AI can be a great leveller. As we are all aware Ireland’s tech sector is already a global powerhouse. AI can both enhance and amplify that success. It can drive innovation in agriculture, manufacturing and renewable energy. If we harness it wisely, AI can strengthen our competitiveness and create high-quality jobs for decades to come. AI can help Government operate more efficiently and transparently and God knows nobody in this building would denounce that. Fraud detection systems can protect public funds. AI driven analytics can improve transport planning and reduce congestion.”
“AI is already helping doctors detect cancers earlier, analyse scans faster, and personalise treatments with unprecedented precision. AI assisted radiology can identify tumours invisible to the human eye. Predictive models can anticipate cardiac events before symptoms appear. Virtual assistants can support people with chronic illnesses, improving quality of life and reducing strain on our health system. Imagine how the HSE would benefit where waiting lists shrink because of an AI triage system that would streamline diagnostics and where rural communities in particular gain access to world class expertise through AI powered telemedicine. This is not fantasy; it is happening now. For instance, AI apps are analysing vital signs for heart conditions, diabetes, hypertension and fall risks.”
“Today, we all need to speak frankly about both sides of this technological revolution - the extraordinary benefits AI can bring to Ireland and the world but also the grave danger it poses, particularly when it comes to the sexual exploitation of women and children. I also want to address without equivocation the deeply troubling behaviour of certain AI systems or apps and platforms, including the Grok app on X whose reckless design choices and permissive content generation have raised legitimate alarm. I welcome Grok's announcement overnight with regard to its facilitation of clear abuse of people, albeit enforced on it by worldwide outrage. Ar dtús, let us begin with the positive, because the potential is immense.”
“Over the past year or so, we have all seen the emergence into the general populace of what can only be described as a profound technological transformation. Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant concept. It is here and it is partaking in every part of our daily lives, shaping our economy, public services, our ways of communicating and, increasingly, our vulnerabilities. The decisions we make in this House or further afield in other parliaments will determine whether AI becomes a force for human flourishing or a tool that magnifies and indeed encourages exploitation, inequality and harm. AI is not inherently good or bad but it is powerful. Power, as history teaches us, must be governed with foresight, responsibility and moral clarity. We cannot afford to be passive observers.”
“In December the IDA published its annual results for 2025, stating it has secured a record 323 investment proposals, representing a 38% increase on the previous year, and expected to deliver over 15,000 new jobs. In Wexford last year, Bank of New York Mellon disposed of 310 highly skilled jobs. The workers lost their jobs and the offices are on the market in an IDA business park in Wexford town. This is an ideal opportunity to acquire a really good suite of offices in a building that an IDA company could move into. I urge the Minister to impress upon the IDA to purchase this building and secure employment - perhaps replacement employment for the 310 workers of BNY Mellon who lost their jobs in Wexford.”
“Blackwater GAA club faced a demand for €46,000 to connect to a fire hydrant. Ballagh Boxing Club, with 25 members, was asked for €19,000 for a water connection to its modular build unit. Community groups doing amazing work are getting pinned to the canvas by a State utility company. Only highlighting by myself and others got these issues somewhat resolved. However, when the owner of a new single house built in the heart of Wexford town was forced to pay €33,000 for a single connection for a single one-off house, Uisce Éireann stood firm in its ridiculous demands. Community groups and citizens are being screwed by Uisce Éireann because of the lack of investment by this and previous Governments.”
“Twenty-six years ago, the late councillor Paddy Nolan in Wexford town raised the issue of raw sewage leaking from a large pipe in his home area of Maudlintown. It is still leaking raw sewage today. It has never been touched and no attempt has been made to resolve it. These are just a couple of examples in a small area, so Deputies can imagine the scale of the problem out there. Then we have the issue of hard water for consumers in Wexford town and areas south of it. People are being forced to pay huge sums to treat the water and to replace the appliances that are constantly being damaged, including kettles, showers, dishwashers and washing machines. The whole area of connection charges is astounding. Some instances I have dealt with over the years border on criminal.”
“Uisce Éireann is out of control and appears to be answerable to nobody. If the public was made fully aware of the loss of water through leaks across the country, it would be astonished. As a councillor in the past and as a TD since I was elected to this august House, I have had to deal with Irish Water on a number of issues. One leak that comes to mind was where a pipe in Wexford town was losing 10,000 litres of water per hour. After years of contact with Uisce Éireann, it was resolved - but only after years. I dealt with another single pipe in Coolballow, Wexford town, that had 52 leaks in 18 months, with constant patching after patching. There were years of campaigning before the pipe was replaced. Nothing has changed.”
“I welcome some of the initiatives the Minister has announced. There are markets we can work on. I gave the example of Savannah in Georgia before. A number of Ministers have visited Savannah as part of the St. Patrick’s Day connections. Savannah has huge Irish connections. The city has a population of 170,000. Last year, it had 17 million visitors. If one considers that Australia had about 10 million in total, this is a vast market we should tap into. There is no direct flight to Savannah. I flew there a number of times to celebrate with the local people because of the strong Wexford connections. It took me 24 hours to get there despite the massive connections we have with that part of North America in south-east Georgia. We really need to tap into it and work with it.”
“One could suggest geopolitical activity may have had some influence on some of the markets but for North America to show growth while the others decline is quite surprising and requires some investigation.”
“I thank the Minister for his response. Someone’s figures are not adding up. There has been a clash – I think the CSO was saying one figure and the industry was saying another. The indications are that foreign spending slumped by almost €1 billion and total international visitors are down year on year by some 13%. As one can imagine in an industry worth €8.9 billion to the economy with, I think, around 200,000 people employed directly and indirectly, that is a shocking statistic. I appreciate what the Minister said about there appearing to be some pickup. While North America showed some growth, markets like Britain, France and Germany, surprisingly, appear to have declined.”
“What factors have been identified by the Department as driving the year-on-year decline of €1 billion in tourism revenue, as recently calculated? What immediate actions does the Minister intend to take to stabilise the sector and prevent further losses?”
“As part of the programme for Government, the coalition committed to work with like-minded EU countries to stand up for Irish farmers and defend our interests in opposing the current Mercosur trade deal, yet the week before Christmas, the IFA called on the Taoiseach, Deputy Martin, to clarify whether he had done some backroom deal with Ursula von der Leyen to back Mercosur and sell out Irish beef and poultry farmers such was its level of suspicion about the Government's stance on Mercosur. Other sectors will benefit, of course, but none of these sectors will seek to send substandard products to South America, be they tech, pharma or whatever else. We also have the issue of workers' rights in South America. The Government must oppose this.”
“As the motion states, the Mercosur trade agreement runs entirely counter to EU and Irish climate legislation and would incentivise further deforestation, biodiversity loss and environmental destruction in Mercosur countries, in particular Brazil. This deal creates a double standard. Irish farmers face strict climate rules while competing with imports produced under weaker environmental protections. This totally contradicts EU climate ambitions and also undermines Ireland's commitments to sustainable agriculture. This deal is undoubtedly a threat to the economic fabric of rural communities that rely heavily on beef and livestock.”
“Even after proposed EU safeguards, the Government said it still had insufficient confidence in the measures to protect food standards, yet it could not manage to convince enough of our colleagues in Europe of this. The rest of Europe seemed content to have substandard food safety and standards and allow hormones into their food chains. Environmental groups and Irish political figures argued for years that the deal could incentivise further deforestation in South America to expand cattle production. We are being told that we will have to cut our national herd, but Brazil will be allowed to increase its national herd by 28 million by 2034.”
“On 9 January, the Taoiseach, Deputy Martin, declared that Ireland could not support a deal where imported beef came from production systems that were not as carbon efficient and did not have the same stringent standards as Irish agriculture. He declared this as if this news had fallen from the sky. It was known for years, yet the Government failed miserably to garner support to ensure that sufficient numbers were available to defeat this proposal in the EU. As part of the programme for Government, the coalition committed to work with like-minded EU countries to stand for Irish farmers and defend our interests in opposing the current Mercosur trade deal. Irish MEPs have for years highlighted the public health risks of allowing large volumes of beef produced under looser pesticide and veterinary rules into the EU market.”
“Can I ask we do our utmost to ensure this series of strikes, which will have a chaotic impact in the likes of my county of Wexford, is averted as best we can?”
“-----county - have gone on strike. The INMO and SIPTU have said they are seeking implementation of a 2023 Workplace Relations Commission pay agreement that was agreed for section 39 organisations. They are specifically seeking the 8% increase that is due to their members working in Caredoc. This is the first of a number of planned strikes that will have a significant impact on GP's out-of-hours services. Last week, 14 ambulances were stacked up at Wexford hospital. It was chaotic and this will only add to that. Can I ask if there can be any intervention? I appreciate there are industrial relations mechanisms but these workers are asking for something that was agreed in 2023, which was an 8% increase.”
“Budgets are committed to deliver safer roads and stakeholders are held accountable for failings. Overhauling the Road Safety Authority was the Government's chance to deliver an agency with the powers to make our roads safer, not just to spend on PR campaigns. What will the Government do now to reduce road deaths? What new action will the Taoiseach undertake?”
“I am glad to hear the Taoiseach's commitment to public transport. However, in the strategic rail review, the Rosslare to Waterford rail line has been abandoned yet again. There is no investment in the Rosslare Europort to Dublin line, despite the massive investment that is going to happen in Rosslare Europort. Despite the talk, there are known road safety blackspots in every constituency. In my constituency, the absolutely dreadful conditions of rural roads in particular are appalling. It is mainly due to the massive and continuing underfunding of Wexford County Council. Despite the fact that local authorities are doing their best, every TD could say the same about councils across the country. Who is responsible for identifying the structural failures on our roads and ensuring best practice is implemented?”
“We learn from The Journal today that the Government has abandoned the plan agreed last year to reform the Road Safety Authority by splitting it into two separate bodies – one that is responsible for road safety and another for operational activities like the NCT and driver testing. This was recommended following an independent external review of the Road Safety Authority. What is the Government's plan to reduce road deaths as we enter the most dangerous period of the year for road users? Why has the Government abandoned the plan to reform the Road Safety Authority? Will there be an increased level of roads policing and enforcement over the next two weeks?”
“Sadly, the rise in dangerous driving and issues with roads policing is reflected in the rise in deaths on our roads. Already this year, 180 people have been killed on our roads, eight more than last year. In recent weeks, there has been a shocking number of horrific accidents. Each death is a tragedy for the families of those killed that will be deeply felt next week as they gather for the Christmas the Taoiseach has just spoken about. If current trends continue, the overall figure will surpass the 184 killed in 2023, which was the highest number in almost a decade. It is not clear what strategy the Government has to address this distressing increase. The official goal is to halve road deaths by 2030. Instead, Ireland is one of the few European countries where road deaths are increasing. The road safety strategy is failing.”
“Every TD in this House can recount to the Taoiseach problems with public transport in their constituencies but he has abandoned the 2:1 ratio of investment in much-needed buses, trains and trams. Those travelling to work in this House every day know the chaos that driving or commuting to Dublin now involves. With increased congestion, we are also seeing driver behaviour deteriorating. Those who follow the rules of the road can only sit and watch those reckless drivers breaking the rules, acting with impunity. It is a vicious cycle. The road safety campaign group, PARC, has highlighted the decline in the number of motoring fines in recent years. This summer we saw the publication of the Crowe report on roads policing. That should have been a wake-up call on the need for stronger action.”
“Again last night there was traffic chaos across Dublin after the M50 was closed due to a fire near the bridge. This rippled across the city and the counties surrounding Dublin. For those relying on public transport, there is more and more evidence of a system falling apart or not functioning: ghost buses, cancelled trains, and a Luas that shuts down due to a storm. Commuters are tearing their hair out and the roll-back of remote working arrangements is putting more workers on the road from places like my constituency of Wexford. My colleague, Deputy Wall, has raised the need for a new Operation Freeflow, a real right to remote work and better roads policing.”
“I spoke recently with the DSPCA about the worrying rise in kitten farming and the growing demand for fashionable breeds fuelled by viral trends on social media in creating large profit-driven breeding operations where appearance is prioritised over animal welfare. I have seen this myself on countless occasions on social media. Kitten farming may be less widely recognised than puppy farming but the suffering it causes is every bit as real. We must also get ahead of this issue before it becomes another real problem. I earnestly request everyone to support Deputy Whitmore’s Bill.”
“By supporting this Bill and incorporating Stout's law within it, we can send a clear message: that Ireland no longer tolerates cruelty behind closed doors; that compassion must outweigh profit; and that the welfare of animals is a reflection on the values we hold as a society. Stout did not survive but his legacy can ensure that thousands of other dogs do. It is time now to reform our laws, to strengthen enforcement, to protect vulnerable animals and give Ireland a dog-breeding system we can be proud of. I urge everybody in this Chamber to support the Dog Welfare (Amendment) Bill 2025 and formally incorporate Stout’s law into this legislation for Stout and for the countless dogs suffering and that will continue to suffer if we do not act upon this now. Before I close, I want to highlight one more emerging concern.”
“It would ensure breeders have a legal, moral and enforceable duty to provide freedom from discomfort, distress and neglect, and freedom to behave as dogs are meant to behave. Rescue centres should not be forced to pick up the pieces of an industry that profits from suffering. They should not be dealing with litters born with degenerative conditions, malnourished mothers or traumatised animals that have known nothing but stress and confinement. We have a serious animal welfare problem in Ireland and we have a responsibility - morally, socially and legislatively - to confront it.”
“Additionally, the Bill includes criminal penalties for breaches - fines up to €250,000 and imprisonment of up to five years for serious offences. These are not unreasonable demands. They are the minimum standards required for ethical breeding. We are calling for Stout's law to be incorporated into Deputy Whitmore's Bill. This would strengthen the legislation by establishing stricter limits on age and the duration and conditions of breeding; limiting lifetime litters; creating an independent regulator with real enforcement powers; supporting local authorities in oversight; outlawing backyard puppy farms once and for all; and ensuring transparency and accountability at every step. Stout's law would ensure that welfare is not an afterthought but the foundation.”
“They have a campaign called Stout's law, which proposes that we finally recognise dogs not merely as personal property, but as living beings with intrinsic needs, with the right to comfort, proper care, and the ability to express normal behaviour. Deputy Whitmore's Bill offers a strong, structured and humane solution. I welcome this Bill in the Dáil today. My colleague, Deputy O'Donoghue, our spokesperson on agriculture, which animal welfare falls under, has also begun to process a Bill after hearing about Stout's law. He recommends a cap of 30 breeding females per site; minimum and maximum breeding ages; a limit of one litter per year and four in a lifetime; a staff-to-animal ratio of 10:1; a ban on surgical artificial insemination; and updated fees to reflect higher welfare standards.”
“At this point I would like to talk about a small pup that I have spoken about before in this Chamber. It is a pup called Stout from my constituency of Wexford, who has reached thousands of people because of an online campaign. Stout suffered from severe health difficulties caused by malnutrition, poor breeding practices and the appalling, unsanitary conditions in which he was kept. Despite every effort by the Wexford SPCA, Stout lost his life last August. However, because two people, Tara O'Connor and Kevin Keegan, refused to let Stout's suffering be in vain, his legacy lives on. They have led a compassionate and determined campaign, rallying animal lovers across the county, the country and beyond, and called for legislation that holds breeders accountable and centres animal welfare in every aspect of dog breeding.”
“Backyard breeders continue to operate with virtually no accountability. Local authorities do their best with the resources they have, but they cannot enforce what is, in reality, an unenforceable system. There is no dedicated Garda unit for animal cruelty. Many cases only come to light when neighbours, for instance, become concerned, meaning countless animals suffer unseen, behind closed doors. Animal sanctuaries are at breaking point as unprecedented numbers of puppies, kittens and horses are abandoned and soaring costs and falling donations leave those charities struggling to cope. This situation is not sustainable. It is not humane, and it is not who we claim to be as a nation that values compassion, responsibility and community. This Bill should have a face and a name.”
“A puppy should be cared for, nurtured and held during the first crucial 12 weeks of life, not treated as a commodity to be produced for profit. This simply cannot continue. We need stronger oversight, higher standards and meaningful enforcement. I welcome the opportunity for us to debate the Bill today. I hope it proceeds to Committee Stage. I was not present for the earlier part of the debate but I note the ministerial amendment. It is time for the Bill to move to Committee Stage. We do not need to wait for a year down the line. As a result of weak regulation, harmful practices have been allowed to flourish. Under the current system puppies can be bred from females as young as four months old. Female dogs can be repeatedly bred, with almost no restrictions. Oversight is inconsistent, and enforcement is patchy at best.”
“Yet, it is our animal welfare charities, operating on shoestring budgets, that are left to pick up the pieces. They are the ones dealing with the endless stream of neglected, sick and traumatised dogs. Countless animals are suffering the consequences of poor and irresponsible breeding, and far too many are being euthanised as a result. In some of the large-scale breeding operations, there can be as many as 300 pregnant mothers at any one time. Females can be bred from as young as six months old and are forced to give birth again and again, with little regard for their health or well-being. The puppies themselves often come into the world deformed, sick, or burdened with long-term physical and behavioural issues.”