2533. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the new legislative changes he announced in May 2026 to improve standards for dog breeding establishments and strengthen welfare protections for dogs and puppies (details supplied) will extend to coursing and non-coursing greyhounds as part of the Artificial Insemination of Greyhounds Regulations 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56086/26]

On 1 August 2025, all policy and legislative responsibility for the Dog breeding Establishments Act transferred to my Department from the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.

My Department has introduced draft legislation, the Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2026 to cabinet on Tues 19th May 2026, to update the existing regulatory framework for dog breeding establishments in Ireland across three key areas - welfare and breeding, sales and record keeping, and administration and enforcement. The Bill was approved for priority drafting and will be referred to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine for pre-legislative scrutiny.

Government Draft Legislation announced in May 2026 tightens the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010. It restricts female dogs to four litters in a lifetime and bans third-party sales. A formal deadline for enactment is pending full legislative debate, but it is actively advancing through the Oireachtas.

The Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2026 does not extend to coursing and non-coursing greyhounds. However, the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011 governs the welfare of greyhounds, the regulation of greyhound breeding establishments and the breeding of greyhounds.