Irish Farmers Association Launch ‘No Dogs Allowed’ Campaign In Wicklow

Launching IFA’s 2025 ‘No Dogs Allowed’ campaign in Newcastle today, IFA President Francie Gorman said dog owners have to be confronted about their failure to take responsibility for the actions of their pets.

The IFA President said the new Government has to recognise the deepening issue of dog attacks on livestock.

Among the measures proposed by the Working Group of Control of dogs were stricter regulations and increased enforcement on the ground to tackle the issue of irresponsible dog ownership.

Wicklow IFA Chair Tom Byrne said it’s a critical time of the year as lambing commences and has warned dog owners that dogs are not allowed on or near farmland and to behave in a responsible way and adhere to this.

“It is also important to remind dog owners that they are fully liable for any damages caused to farmers and their livestock and dogs found on our lands can be shot,” he said.

The following are the measures needed to tackle the issue:

• 1. A single National Database for all dogs correlating licensing and microchipping and identifying the person responsible for the dog, but at a minimum alignment of the existing licensing and microchipping records to one central access point.
• 2. Full enforcement of microchipping and licensing obligations of dog owners for all dogs.
• 3. Stronger powers of enforcement for dog wardens and Gardaí and clarity on these powers.
• 4. Increased on the spot fines for failing to comply with the microchipping and licensing requirements.
• 5. Increased sanctions and on the spot fines for failing to have the dog under control.
• 6. Significant on the spot fines for dogs found worrying livestock.
• 7. Legal requirement for dogs to be microchipped and licensed and identified on the NVPS (National Veterinary Prescribing System) prior to any veterinary treatment or prescribing of medicines by veterinary practitioners.
• 8. Authority to apply the legislative obligations to dogs in border regions owned by persons not resident in the State.