Yesterday the Government announced new rules and legislation regarding puppy farming. This is very welcome because for far too long, this and previous Governments have ignored animal welfare issues. However, there is a glaring omission in the legislation and that is the mention of a cap. Is it still the case that puppy farms will be able to have 300 female dogs breeding on site and potentially thousands of pups? If it is, then that is a huge flaw in the legislation. Last December the Social Democrats brought forward a Bill that had a cap included. The Taoiseach has been talking about cheap politics here today and he is constantly talking about how the Opposition does not offer positive solutions. In December we brought forward a Bill and Government Ministers, on the floor of this Dáil, asked us not to bring that Bill to a vote because they wanted to work with us on it. I have had no communication regarding the Bill in the last five or six months. That is not good enough.

The Taoiseach to respond.

It says an awful lot about the Government and about the Ministers in Government that-----

Deputy, be fair to other Deputies. You are now way over time.

-----what was stated here and the promises and commitments made to us that night were not upheld.

Nobody has a monopoly on passion or care for animals, including horses and dogs, or any other elements of animal welfare. As Minister with responsibility for animal welfare, I am determined to drive an agenda of change in a whole host of areas. I was part of the negotiations on the programme for Government when we transferred the control of dogs back to my Department, which is the right place for it. This is a clear outworking of that. What was agreed yesterday by the Cabinet was the heads of a Bill on dog control and how we approach dog breeding establishments. This is a key element of that. It is something in which Deputy Whitmore has a keen interest. I look forward to working with her and all Members of the House as that Bill progresses through all Stages in the Dáil, the Seanad and at committee, as we put in place dog breeding establishment legislation that will take away some of the bad practices that happened in the past. That is something that I know Deputy Whitmore wants to do, as do I and my colleagues in government. I look forward to working with the Deputy and all Members of the House on that.