Last week in Limerick, I attended the sad and tragic funeral of Nicole Morey, one of my constituents, whose family members are very well known to me. She was killed by one of her family dogs on the day after her 23rd birthday. The Taoiseach's colleague, the Tánaiste, is on record as saying that he is in favour of a blanket ban on all 11 types of dogs on the State's restricted list. Does the Taoiseach agree with the Tánaiste? I hope he does because some of these breeds have been banned in most European countries, most recently in the UK. I know the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, has set up a committee, etc. I think she set it up several months ago. I do not know if it has actually sat yet, but I know she has now instructed the chairman to call a meeting and to come up with a recommendation by next autumn. These incidents are proliferating, so would it be possible to inject a bit of energy and speed into these processes?

I thank Deputy O'Dea for raising this very important matter. I begin by extending my sympathies to the family of Nicole Morey. I think the whole country extends its sympathies to that family and community at this horrific time. The Minister, Deputy Humphreys, did update the Cabinet on this matter today. The Deputy is correct that she has asked the task force looking at these issues in respect of dogs, dangerous dogs and dog control to prioritise the issue of introducing a ban on certain breeds. I believe the committee is due to meet on 26 June and we have asked that it would report on this specific issue as quickly as possible because we do have to act on this issue.