On behalf of the Minister for agriculture and the Minister of State, Deputy Grealish, I thank Deputy Whitmore for bringing forward this Bill and for her many contributions in relation to it. The Department has committed to making a difference around dog control, breeding and welfare. The Minister also wishes to emphasise that this timed amendment, as put forward, is focused on providing sufficient time to allow for existing processes that have been in train for some time to come to fruition. This is also about ensuring that there is sufficient public, stakeholder and expert engagement in the area of dog control, breeding and welfare-enacting legislation prior to any legislative change. The Minister is looking forward to engaging proactively with all interested stakeholders and contributors such as the initiator of the Bill, Deputy Whitmore, on the output of the recommendations emanating from the process. The Minister is very happy to consider the need for legislative change in this space and engage proactively with all interested parties in the context of the completion of the evidence-based and stakeholder-driven processes that are in place to inform these considerations by the Minister and the Department. I know there has been a very significant and comprehensive debate this morning on an issue that is particularly important and for which the Deputy has been a long-time advocate. The Department and the Minister are committed to engaging further, with a view to implementing changes in due course.

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