Debate contribution: Register of Animal Welfare Offenders

Debate contribution by Mr Stephen Dunne on 22 October 2024.

MLA

Mr Stephen Dunne

Party at the time

Democratic Unionist Party

Date

22 October 2024

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Private Members' Business

Heading

Register of Animal Welfare Offenders

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4608472

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I welcome the opportunity to speak on an important motion on animal welfare across Northern Ireland. It is appropriate that the United Kingdom, as a nation of animal lovers — animals both domestic and farmed — has one of the toughest sentencing regimes in the world for animal cruelty. It is imperative that we in Northern Ireland keep pace and, indeed, lead the way on animal welfare when compared with neighbouring jurisdictions. Our party is fully committed to ensuring that animals receive the necessary protections from harm and cruel mistreatment. We have been pleased to see recent progress in the area, as my colleagues have said, to tackle pet abductions and immoral puppy breeding practices. However, the statistics for animal abuse and those responsible for it show that, far too often, repeat offenders are able to get access to animals continuously, despite having already been punished for heinous animal cruelty crimes.

There is a very important role for the Department, our councils and the PSNI around animal welfare. We need to see a more coordinated, collaborative and joined-up approach to tackling animal cruelty. As can be the case on a range of issues here, there are often 11 different approaches to animal welfare across our councils — something that is not unique to the issue of animal welfare, where we have that variation, positively or negatively, across our 11 councils.

There is also a body of evidence that highlights an inconsistent approach by our judicial system to animal welfare sentencing across Northern Ireland and the awarding of sentences, including disqualification orders. Recent figures show that just 12% of those convicted of abuse or neglect towards animals end up with a custodial sentence. From that, we can take two points. First, it is clear that we need stronger deterrents to send a message to would-be abusers and, importantly, to prevent repeat offenders. Secondly, it is clear that reputable dealers and rehoming charities do not have access to the information to vet individuals who express an interest in purchasing or assuming care for an animal. Moreover, our local police officers and animal welfare officers are unaware if a potential offender already has a track record of animal cruelty when investigating complaints and potential crimes. By introducing an animal welfare offenders register, we can equip the relevant organisations with the tools to crack down on those responsible for these cruel, heinous and barbaric crimes, but we can also ensure that offenders are accountable for their crimes. Accountability is crucial, and we could do more on that. Whilst there are legitimate concerns around the register's implications relating to budgets, data protection and human rights, there is evidence from across the world that it can be done, and I believe that it should be done. As my colleague Michelle McIlveen rightly highlighted, a number of examples exist around the world, including in New York and Finland, that demonstrate that it can work. Every effort should be made by the Minister on best practice from around the world. I appreciate his efforts, to date, on this important issue. As has been said, there is strong appetite around our council chambers, with seven out of the 11 having debated or passed motions calling for the creation of a banned offenders register, since 2019 — something that has been supported by a number of charities, including the USPCA. I noted that one of the Minister's first visits was to the USPCA and that he stated that he wanted to make animal welfare a priority. This is an opportunity for him to demonstrate that with actions. Without such a register, the ability of the relevant statutory agencies with animal welfare enforcement responsibilities to ensure that bans on animal possession are enforced is severely limited. This is a welcome opportunity to put that forward. With those points in mind, our motion calls on the Minister to look seriously at establishing a register and to ensure that he consults with Ministers in the Republic of Ireland and, importantly, across the UK to ensure that we remain a world leader for animal welfare protection. We all know the value that so many of us place on animals. We are often reminded of that, particularly when we go round the doors and see the number of dogs — often not just one but two or more dogs in, sometimes, every other home — and the love that they bring to so many people across our community in every corner of Northern Ireland. It is important that we give a voice to them today. I encourage the Minister to work with all colleagues and, through a joined-up approach, to look at a range of measures to improve the welfare of animals across Northern Ireland.

790 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

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Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:28 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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