A ban on the notorious XL Bully dog breed has been announced by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys today.
This comes after Nicole Morey (23) died after being attacked by an XL Bully at her Co. Limerick home last month, which resulted in calls for the breed to be banned.
The ban is to be implemented in two phases between October and February, with Minister Humphreys saying that the legislation is in the interest of public safety.
From October 1 2024, the importing, breeding, selling and re-homing of XL Bullies will be banned by the new legislation.
The second phase will come into effect February 1 2025, when it will become illegal to own an XL Bully without a ‘Certificate of Exemption’.
“These new regulations will ensure that, from October, nobody in the State can take ownership of these dangerous dogs and that it will be illegal to breed, sell, import, rehome, exchange, gift or abandon XL Bully dogs,” Minister Humphreys said.
“Secondly, I will be bringing in a system of certification for existing owners of XL Bully dogs. Over the period 1st October 2024 to 1st February 2025 all existing XL Bully owners will have to apply for a Certificate of Exemption.”
The certificates will be issued only to those whose XL Bully’s have a licence and are microchipped and neutered.
Further criteria for this exemption will be discussed by the Stakeholder Group on Dog Control.
After February 1 2025, any owner found not to be compliant with the new laws will have their dog seized and euthanised.
In a statement, Minister Humphreys said that she knows many will disagree with the decision.
“I’m a dog owner myself and I know people love their dogs. We must be mindful however that no dog’s life is worth more than human life. Ultimately that is what guided me in making this decision.
“The XL Bully was responsible for the horrific attack on Alejandro Mizsan in Wexford last year and it was also the breed which killed a young woman in Limerick recently.
“If we do not take action now the number of these dogs in the country will grow and my fear is that these attacks will become more frequent. It is my strong view that Ireland should not be out of step with neighbouring jurisdictions in Northern Ireland and the UK on this matter,” the minister said.
A similar two-stage approach on XL Bully dogs came into effect last week in Northern Ireland.