The Irish Farmers Association says the Government and Local Authorities are continuing to ignore the seriousness of dog attacks on livestock.
During a visit to Donegal this week, IFA President Francie Gorman said farmers have had enough.
“The lack of robust enforcement of the legal obligations on dog owners has allowed these attacks to persist and increase across the country and it is unacceptable,” Mr Gorman said.
“We are demanding stronger regulations and stricter enforcement for those who disregard the safety and wellbeing of our livestock immediately,” he said.
IFA President Francie Gorman with Michael Boyce, Joe Sweeney, Chairman and Adrain Gallagher, Sheep Committee Chairman as they launch the IFA’s No Dogs campaign on Michael Boyce’ Farm outside Letterkenny, Co. Donegal. Photo Clive Wasson
IFA National Sheep Chair Adrian Gallagher said stronger regulations announced by Minister Humphreys in November was a step in the right direction but does not go far enough to protect livestock from dog attacks.
Among the measures proposed by the Working Group of Control of dogs were stricter regulations and increased enforcement on the ground to tackle the issue of irresponsible dog ownership.
“The critical issue in the first instance is to have all dogs in the country microchipped, registered to the owner and licensed in order to establish a national database for all dogs and the person responsible for the dog,” he said.
IFA will participate in a new Dog Control Stakeholder group aimed at addressing dog control issues in the coming weeks.