THE PENALTIES provided under the Dog Breeding Establishments Bill were criticised by Fine Gael environment spokesman Phil Hogan.

“Penalties of up to €5,000, to be imposed on people for very minor offences, are onerous,” he said. “I look forward to hearing the clarifications we need on so many matters before we consider how to vote.”

Mr Hogan urged the Dáil to carefully consider the legislation.

“Powers of entry, those relating to breeding programmes and the powers given to people outside the State veterinary inspection system are excessive,” he added.

Mr Hogan said hunting clubs were well regulated and did not breed for commercial purposes but to retain dogs for the pack.

“As a former greyhound owner, and somebody who knows the industry well, I realise the veterinary inspections, system of markings and the manner in which the industry is run, is second to none in terms of animal welfare,” he added.

Labour spokesman Ciarán Lynch said that over the years lax controls had led to legitimate allegations of the over-breeding of dogs in very poor conditions.

“It has been suggested that many of the dogs held in puppy farms can be compared to battery hens whose value is solely measured in terms of how many pups they can give birth to, and how often they can produce each litter,” he said.

Mr Lynch added there was also an undoubted hostility on the part of many people to greyhound coursing, racing and indeed to horse racing.

“People are, obviously, entitled to to their views, but the claim made that there is an agenda ultimately to ban a wide range of sports is not too wide of the mark,” he added.

Fianna Fail’s Johnny Brady (Meath West) said the Bill was necessary.

“Unfortunately, we have all seen on our screens the severe cruelty inflicted on dogs in so-called puppy farms, and the Bill would ensure that Ireland would no longer be a haven for unscrupulous breeders.”

In 2008, over 10,000 stray or unwanted dogs had been put down in Ireland’s dog pounds.

Mr Brady said the Bill had been drafted in accordance with the recommendations of the working group to review the management of dog breeding establishments, which reported in June 2005.