I congratulate Deputy Whitmore on a brilliant piece of work. While I welcome that the Government is not outright opposing this Bill - I do appreciate that and we all welcome it very much - I have to say it is frustrating and disappointing because we hear this line consistently from the Government that we do not put forward solutions, and yet the last three pieces of legislation this party has put forward have all been served with timed amendments. They are not complex pieces of legislation that would require the Government to do that. To me, it really feels like these are being kicked down the road, unfortunately, when essentially there is no reason we cannot progress to the next Stage and deliberate more fully. I would say the same of our previous Bill, which was to reduce the voting age to 16, for which we know there was Government support from certain Members, and of our Bill that originated in the Seanad to provide free transport to victims of gender-based violence. As a new TD, it is something that really stands out for me. When my team and I meet voters in Rathdown, we are always meeting people with dogs. These are pets that are treasured family members. They are vital companions for many in our community. They are well cared for and loved and they enjoy safe homes and kind treatment. However, not far from the border of my constituency, at Mount Venus Road, many animals are cared for by the NSPCA. These are dogs that have experienced the most cruel treatment and neglect. Although we love our animals, we have to do better in protecting them, and this Bill allows us to do just that. Ireland has earned a shameful title as the puppy farm capital of Europe. It is not a badge of honour; it is a stain on our conscience. The Bill put forward by Deputy Whitmore will end the cruelty, secrecy and profiteering that has defined this industry for far too long. Every year, 30,000 puppies are churned out like products on a factory line. They are shipped from Dublin to places as far away as Singapore, and while the puppies are sold for thousands of euro, their mothers are left behind in cages, forced to repeat the cycle again and again until their bodies give up. This is not farming; it is the mass production of misery. The Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 was supposed to protect animals but instead it opened the floodgates. Many councils appear to have handed out licences rather than confront the logistical challenges of seizing dogs. This legislation is facilitating, instead of regulating, large-scale commercial dog breeding, and now Ireland has become the world's supplier of designer puppies - cavapoos, pomskies, cockapoos; cute names masking ugly realities. Obtaining a licence to breed in Ireland does not guarantee animal welfare. A fully-licensed farm can have one staff member responsible for 175 dogs and still be in compliance. We have seen dogs living in piggeries, fish boxes and their own filth, and we have seen puppies sold online, only to drop dead within weeks because of bad breeding and a terrible start to life. Families are then left heartbroken, children traumatised, and the animals themselves suffer unspeakably. While the cruelty is obvious, the economic crime is hidden. Tens of thousands of dogs are sold each year, often for €500, €1,000 and €5,000 each. Much of this trade is unregistered and untaxed. This is money that could instead be funding inspections, veterinary care or public services. This unregulated puppy farming is not just animal abuse; it is a thriving black market. We cannot keep pretending this is a niche problem. It is a €120 million industry. It is global and growing. If we do nothing, Ireland will continue to export cruelty for profit. If we act, Ireland can show that we genuinely care about animal welfare. A puppy is not a product. A kennel is not a factory. Animal welfare is not optional.

Sentiment score: -0.01