asked the Minister for Finance the proposals his Department has for imposing realistic fees for dog licences.

The level of duty on dog licences is a matter for consideration in the context of the budget.

I would ask the Minister to consider that there is a bit more to the level of duty on dog licences than a matter to be considered in the budget. Is the Minister aware that this matter has been touched on by the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Deputy Allen, on a previous occasion and by the Minister for the Environment, both of whom said that this was part of the action they were considering to deal with the problem of marauding dogs killing sheep?

That may be so, but this question relates to realistic fees for dog licences and I have replied that it is a matter for consideration in the context of the budget.

Would the Minister not consider that there is more to it than the marginal question of budgetary receipts?

The Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture is already dealing with that.