Debate contribution: Lucy's Law
Debate contribution by Mr Andrew Muir on .
- MLA
- Mr Andrew Muir
- Party at the time
- Alliance Party
- Date
- 28 September 2026
- Type
- Debate contribution
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Lucy's Law
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 5762370
Read the official Assembly record
Text
Thank you, Sian. I do not apologise for being passionate about this, because animal welfare is a really important issue. I am incredulous that the deputy First Minister could not agree to it last Thursday. I do not ask much of Ministers: read your Executive papers, raise your queries and allow matters to go to a decision. The animal welfare pathway is one of my top priorities. Significant progress has been made on that ambitious programme of animal welfare reform. Legislation mandating CCTV in slaughterhouses is now in place, and the independent review of the regulations for dog breeding establishments has been published, delivering two major commitments. A public consultation on phase 1 of the proposals relating to dog breeding establishments will be launched in the coming months, and a supplementary report on canine fertility services has also been completed and will be published shortly. A public consultation outlining proposals for banning specific aversive training devices, enhancing microchipping requirements and regulating rescue and rehoming organisations closed at the end of June and received over 700 responses. That demonstrates the high level of public interest in animal welfare and in providing views to inform final policy proposals. I expect to receive advice on the final policy shortly, following which a consultation summary and a way forward document will be published, setting out proposed next steps, including progressing legislation. For the remainder of the mandate, my focus will be firmly on turning policy into action by securing the approvals required to introduce legislation and tackle animal cruelty in Northern Ireland.
258 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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