Govt consulting AG on XL Bully ban, says Humphreys

The Government is consulting the Attorney General on what legislative changes would have to be made for an XL Bully ban, the Minister for Social Protection has said.

No dog breed is banned in Ireland – unlike in Britain – where it is a criminal offence to own an XL Bully unless the owner has a valid exemption certificate.

However, there are a number of breeds in Ireland, including XL Bullies, that are restricted.

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The breeds include American, English and Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Bull Mastiffs, Doberman dogs, German Shepherds, Japanese Akita and Tosa, Rhodesian Ridgebacks and Rottweilers.

Speaking in the Seanad chamber this afternoon, Heather Humphreys said that Heather Humphreys said that work is already under way on examining how an XL Bully ban in Ireland would work.

“I know some people will not like hearing this today,” she said.

“They will tell me that they own an XL Bully and it would never hurt anybody. I can’t ignore the facts.

“The XL Bully was the dog involved in the attack on Alejandro Mizsan in Wexford and it was also the dog involved in the attack in Limerick last week which killed Nicole Morey.

“We all love our dogs, but no dog’s life is worth more than human life.”

She added that the Government would not oppose a Private Members’ Bill put forward by six senators calling for further dog controls.

Minister Humphreys had previously said if the new stakeholder group on dog control recommends banning a certain breed, she would abide by its suggestion.

She added she was very conscious of public concern over dog control.

In March she announced that former garda assistant commissioner John Twomey will head up the Group on Dog Control, which is tasked with bringing recommendations to the minister in terms of strengthening the legislation around the control of dogs.

‘Clear need for action’ – Taoiseach

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Speaking earlier, Taoiseach Simon Harris said he would like to see a ban on the XL Bully dog and that there is a “clear need” for government action.

He said the issues around this breed of dog will be discussed at a meeting of the Cabinet as he expressed his sympathies to the family of Nicole Morey, who died after being attacked by an XL Bully dog in Co Limerick.

Mr Harris also said he would like to see the work carried out by the taskforce that was established to examine the issues.