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Number 32 of 1986
CONTROL OF DOGS ACT, 1986
ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS
Section | |
Enactments Repealed
Acts Referred to | |
1985, No. 11 | |
1961, No. 41 | |
1966, No. 6 | |
Dogs Act, 1871 | 1871, c. 56 |
Dogs Act, 1906 | 1906, c. 32 |
1960, No. 17 | |
Dublin Police Act, 1839 | 2 & 3 Vict. c. 78 |
Dublin Police Act, 1842 | 5 & 6 Vict. c. 24 |
1925, No. 28 | |
1926, No. 35 | |
1963, No. 23 | |
1983, No. 15 | |
1933, No. 12 | |
1976, No. 20 | |
Protection of Animals Act, 1911 | 1911, c. 27 |
1965, No. 10 | |
Protection of Animals Acts, 1911 and 1965 | |
Public Health (Ireland) Act, 1878 | 1878, c. 52 |
1957, No. 6 | |
Summary Jurisdiction (Ireland) Act, 1851 | 14 & 15 Vict. c. 92 |
Towns Improvement (Ireland) Act, 1854 | 17 & 18 Vict. c. 103 |
Town Police Clauses Act, 1847 | 10 & 11 Vict. c. 89 |
1976, No. 39 | |
Number 32 of 1986
CONTROL OF DOGS ACT, 1986
Interpretation.
1.—In this Act—
“damage” includes death or injury to any person (including any disease caused to a person or any impairment of his physical or mental condition) and includes injury to, or total or partial destruction of, property;
“dispose of” means to sell or to give away;
“dog” includes a bitch of any age or a dog of any age;
“dog licence” means a licence entitling a person to keep a dog;
“dog warden” means a person employed under section 15 of this Act to be a dog warden for the purposes of this Act;
“general dog licence” means a licence entitling a person to keep an unspecified number of dogs;
“greyhound” includes any whippet and any strain or cross of greyhound or whippet;
“licence” includes, as the context may require, a dog licence and a general dog licence;
“livestock” means cattle, sheep, swine, horses and all other equine animals, poultry, goats and deer not in the wild state;
“local authority” means—
(a) in the case of the administrative county of Dublin, other than the borough of Dún Laoghaire, the council of the county of Dublin,
(b) in the case of the borough of Dún Laoghaire, the corporation of the borough,
(c) in the case of a county borough, the corporation of the county borough, and
(d) in the case of any other administrative county, the council of the county,
and references to the functional area of a local authority shall be construed accordingly and local authority shall, as the context may require, include any other person with whom a local authority has entered into an arrangement pursuant to section 15 of this Act;
“the Minister” means the Minister for the Environment;
“occupier” includes a person who owns and occupies, as well as a person who occupies only, any premises and in relation to any land includes a person who is in possession of land under a letting in conacre or for the purposes of agistment or for temporary depasturage;
“owner” in relation to a dog includes the occupier of any premises where the dog is kept or permitted to live or remain at any particular time unless such occupier proves to the contrary: Provided always that where there is more than one dwelling in any house, the occupier of the dwelling in which the dog is kept, or is permitted to live or remain, shall, until the contrary is proved, be presumed to be the owner;
“person in charge of livestock” includes the occupier of any land on which the livestock are kept, or the owner of the livestock, or any member of the family of such occupier or owner, or any person authorised to take charge of the livestock by any of them;
“poultry” means domestic fowls, turkeys, geese, ducks, guinea-fowls, pigeons and peafowl and includes, whilst in captivity, pheasants, partridges, grouse and quail;
“premises” includes any house or land;
“prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made by the Minister;
“public place” means any street, road, seashore, park, land, field or other place to which the public have access, whether by right or by permission, and whether subject to or free of charge;
“sterilise” means to render permanently incapable of breeding;
“stray dog” has the meaning assigned to it by section 11 of this Act;
“Superintendent of the Garda Síochána” means the Superintendent of the Garda Síochána for the area in which a dog is, is found, or is shot;
“veterinary surgeon” means any person who is lawfully qualified to practise veterinary surgery in the State;
“worry” in relation to livestock, means to attack or kill or to chase livestock in such a way as may reasonably be expected to cause the death of or injury or suffering to the livestock or to result in financial loss to the owner of the livestock.
Prohibition on keeping a dog without a licence.
2.—(1) Subject to section 5 of this Act, it shall be unlawful for any person to—
(a) keep a dog unless he holds either—
(i) a dog licence for that dog, or
(ii) a general dog licence, or
(b) take possession, unless he is the holder of a general dog licence, of a dog, pursuant to a change of ownership, before the issue of a dog licence in respect of that dog, or
(c) transfer possession of a dog pursuant to a change of ownership to any other person unless the other person is the holder of a dog licence for that dog or a general dog licence.
(2) The occupier of any premises where a dog is found shall, for the purposes of this section, be deemed to be the person who keeps the dog unless he proves that—
(a) he is not the owner of the dog, and
(b) the dog was kept on the premises either—
(i) without his knowledge, or
(ii) by some other person who had a licence for the dog.
Issue of licences.
3.—(1) A dog licence shall be issued to a person by the local authority for the functional area in which the dog is kept at, or is intended to be kept after, the issue of the licence.
(2) A general dog licence shall be issued to a person by the local authority and shall relate to all dogs kept by such person within the functional area of the local authority.
(3) A local authority may, with the consent of the Minister, enter into arrangements with any other person for the issue of licences on its behalf.
(4) A licence which, before the commencement of this Act, was issued pursuant to section 37 of the Finance Act, 1925, shall be deemed for all purposes to be a licence issued under this Act.
Persons disqualified from holding a licence.
4.—A local authority shall not issue a dog licence or a general dog licence to any person who—
(a) is under the age of sixteen years, or
(b) is disqualified, pursuant to section 18 of this Act, from keeping a dog.
Exemption from holding a licence.
5.—A licence shall not be required in respect of any dog—
(a) whilst such dog is in the possession of a local authority;
(b) whilst such dog is in the possession of the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals or any other person with whom a local authority has entered into an arrangement pursuant to section 15 of this Act;
(c) which is kept by the Garda Síochána and wholly used by a member of the Garda Síochána in the execution of his duty;
(d) which is kept and wholly or mainly used for the purpose of guidance by a blind person or a person whose eyesight is so defective that he is unable to find his way about without guidance;
(e) which is under the age of four months and is kept with its dam or foster-mother;
(f) whilst such dog is in the possession of an inspector (within the meaning of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1966), or other officer of the Minister for Agriculture, or a member of the Garda Síochána, for the purposes of that Act;
(g) which is imported into the State for a period not exceeding thirty days;
(h) which is a greyhound and is purchased for export and which is exported from the State within thirty days after the date of purchase;
(i) which is kept by such other class of person as may be prescribed by the Minister.
Transfer of dog licence.
6.—(1) A dog licence issued to a person in respect of a dog may be transferred to any other person when possession of the dog is transferred to such other person.
(2) Subsection (1) of this section shall not apply in any case where the ownership of the dog is transferred to any other person.
Duration of licence.
7.—A dog licence or a general dog licence shall be in the prescribed form and shall be valid for the period of twelve months from the date of its issue.
Fee for licence.
8.—(1) The following fees shall be payable to a local authority in respect of the issue of a dog licence or a general dog licence, that is to say—
(a) in respect of the issue of a dog licence, a fee of £5, and
(b) in respect of the issue of a general dog licence, a fee of £100.
(2) The Minister may, by regulations, vary the rates specified in subsection (1) of this section and may specify different rates in respect of different classes of dogs.
Control of dogs.
9.—(1) The owner or any other person in charge of a dog shall not permit the dog to be in any place other than—
(a) the premises of the owner, or
(b) the premises of such other person in charge of the dog, or
(c) the premises of any other person, with the consent of that person,
unless such owner or such other person in charge of the dog accompanies it and keeps it under effectual control.
(2) If a dog worries livestock, the owner or any other person in charge of the dog shall be guilty of an offence unless it is established that at the material time the dog worried the livestock for the purpose of removing trespassing livestock and that having regard to all the circumstances the action was reasonable and necessary.
(3) A person who is guilty of an offence under subsection (2) of this section shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £500, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month, or, at the discretion of the court, to both such fine and such imprisonment.
Control of greyhounds.
10.—(1) A person shall not permit a greyhound to be in any public place unless such greyhound is being led by means of a sufficiently strong chain or leash.
(2) A person shall not lead or cause or permit to be led by any one person more than four greyhounds at a time in any public place.
Stray dogs.
11.—(1) A dog warden shall take all reasonable steps to seize and detain any dog that appears to him to be a stray dog and he may enter any premises (other than a dwelling) for the purposes of such seizure and detention.
(2) A member of the Garda Síochána may seize and detain any dog that appears to him to be a stray dog and he may enter any premises (other than a dwelling) for the purposes of such seizure and detention.
(3) Whenever a member of the Garda Síochána seizes or detains a dog pursuant to subsection (2) of this section, he may deliver the dog to the local authority in whose functional area the dog was found.
(4) Whenever a stray dog is seized or detained pursuant to this section by a dog warden or a member of the Garda Síochána, the local authority or, as the case may be, the Superintendent of the Garda Síochána shall give notice to the owner or other person in charge of the dog, if the name of such owner or other person is known to it or him or can be readily ascertained, that the dog has been seized and detained and that the dog will be disposed of, or destroyed, after five days from the date of the giving of the notice, if such dog is not claimed and all expenses relating to its seizure and detention are not paid by the owner or, as the case may be, the person in charge of the dog.
(5) If any person claims a dog which has been seized and detained pursuant to this section, the local authority or the Superintendent of the Garda Síochána shall give the dog to such person if such person—
(a) satisfies the local authority or the Superintendent of the Garda Síochána, as the case may be, that he is the owner of the dog or has been authorised by the owner to claim the dog,
(b) makes a declaration in the prescribed form stating that he is either such owner or has been so authorised to claim the dog, and
(c) pays the amount of the expenditure incurred by the local authority or by the Garda Síochána in respect of the seizure and detention of the dog.
(6) Whenever a stray dog is seized or detained pursuant to this section by a dog warden or a member of the Garda Síochána, the local authority, or as the case may be, the Superintendent of the Garda Síochána shall cause an entry to be made in the register required to be kept under section 14 of this Act.
(7) Five days following the making of an entry in the register pursuant to subsection (6) of this section, or following the giving of a notice pursuant to subsection (4) of this section, whichever is the later, the local authority, or the Superintendent of the Garda Síochána, as the case may be, if no person has been given the dog pursuant to subsection (5) of this section and paid all expenses relating to its seizure and detention, may, subject to subsection (8) of this section, dispose of the dog or arrange for its destruction in a humane manner.
(8) A local authority or a Superintendent of the Garda Síochána, as the case may be, shall not dispose of a dog pursuant to subsection (7) of this section for the purposes of animal experimentation.
(9) A local authority may, before disposing of a dog under this section, sterilise, or arrange to have sterilised, the dog.
(10) Where a local authority or a Superintendent of the Garda Síochána disposes of a dog under this section, the person to whom the dog is given shall become the owner of the dog and the title of its previous owner shall thereupon become extinguished.
(11) In this Act “stray dog” includes any dog which appears to be unaccompanied by a person unless such dog is on the premises of its owner or of some other person who has the dog in his charge or of any other person with that person's consent.
(12) The Minister may, by regulations, vary the period of days specified in subsections (4) and (7) of this section.
Unwanted dogs.
12.—(1) A local authority may accept from its owner, or from a person authorised by the owner, an unwanted dog and, subject to subsection (2) of this section, may dispose of such dog or arrange for its destruction in a humane manner.
(2) A local authority shall not dispose of a dog pursuant to subsection (1) of this section for the purposes of animal experimentation.
(3) A local authority may, before disposing of a dog under this section, sterilise, or arrange to have sterilised, the dog.
(4) Where a local authority disposes of a dog under this section, the person to whom the dog is given shall become the owner of the dog and the title of its previous owner shall thereupon become extinguished.
Finding of stray dogs.
13.—(1) Any person, other than a dog warden or a member of the Garda Síochána, who finds and takes possession of a stray dog shall, forthwith—
(a) return the dog to its owner, or
(b) deliver the dog to a dog warden, or
(c) detain the dog and give notice in writing containing a description of the dog, the address of the place where it was found, and the address of the place where it is detained to the member in charge at the nearest Garda Station to the place where the dog was found, or to a dog warden.
(2) In particular and without prejudice to the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, where any person has reasonable grounds for believing that a stray dog has worried or is about to worry livestock, such person may seize the dog and shall forthwith deliver it to a dog warden.
(3) Where a person has found a stray dog and has retained possession of the dog for a year after the date on which he gave the notice referred to in subsection (1) of this section, and the dog has not been claimed by its owner within that year, such person shall become the owner of the dog and the title of the former owner to the dog shall be extinguished.
(4) Subsection (3) of this section shall not apply if, during the period of a year specified in that subsection, the person who found the dog has ascertained who is the owner of the dog, whereupon such person shall notify the owner that the dog is in his possesion and that the dog can be collected from him.
(5) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 2 of this Act, a person who is not the holder of a general dog licence and who detains a stray dog pursuant to this section shall not be required to obtain a dog licence relating to that dog until he has kept the dog in his possession for a period of not less than twenty-eight days, and the said section 2 shall be construed and have effect accordingly.
Register of seized dogs.
14.—(1) Every local authority shall keep a register of all dogs—
(a) seized by a dog warden employed by it, and
(b) detained by any other person and notified to such dog warden.
(2) Every Superintendent of the Garda Síochána shall keep a register of all dogs—
(a) seized by a member of the Garda Síochána under his control, and
(b) detained by any other person and notified to the member in charge of any Garda Station within his area, and
(c) shot by any person and reported to the member in charge of any Garda Station within his area.
(3) Every register maintained under this section shall contain the following particulars, that is to say:
(a) a description of the dog;
(b) in the case of a dog seized by a dog warden or a member of the Garda Síochána, the date of the seizure of the dog and particulars of the manner in which the dog is disposed of or, as the case may be, destroyed;
(c) in the case of a dog which was detained by any other person, the date of notification of the detention to, as the case may be, the dog warden or the member in charge of the Garda Station concerned, the place where the dog was found, and the place where the dog is detained.
(4) Every register maintained under this section shall be open for inspection at all reasonable times by any interested person.
(5) Every entry in a register maintained under this section shall be retained therein for a period of not less than one year.
Duties of a local authority.
15.—(1) Every local authority shall employ one or more persons to be dog wardens for the purposes of this Act and every person so employed shall be furnished with a certificate of his appointment and when exercising a power under this Act shall, if requested by any person thereby affected, produce such certificate for inspection by the person.
(2) Every local authority shall establish and maintain one or more shelters for dogs seized, accepted or detained under any of the provisions of this Act and may, with the consent of the Minister, enter into arrangements with any person for the provision and maintenance of such shelters and for the exercise by such person of the functions of the local authority under this Act in respect of the acceptance, detention, disposal and destruction of stray and unwanted dogs.
(3) Subject to the provisions of this Act, a local authority may enter into arrangements with any other local authority, or with the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, or, with the consent of the Minister, with a person connected with animal welfare, for the exercise of all or any of its functions, other than its functions under section 17 or section 30 of this Act, under this Act by, as the case may be, such other local authority, such Society or such person.
(4) A local authority may assist any person providing homes or shelters for stray or unwanted dogs by helping that person in money or kind or by the provision of services or facilities (including the services of staff).
Powers of dog wardens.
16.—(1) A dog warden may—
(a) where he has reasonable grounds for believing that a person is committing, or has committed, an offence under this Act or under any regulation or bye-law made thereunder, request of the person his name and address and may request that any information given be verified;
(b) seize any dog and detain it in order to ascertain whether an offence under this Act is being or has been committed and may enter any premises (other than a dwelling) for the purposes of such seizure and detention;
(c) enter any premises (other than a dwelling) for the purpose of preventing or ending—
(i) an attack by a dog on any person, or
(ii) the worrying of livestock;
(d) enter any premises (other than a dwelling)—
(i) which are registered in accordance with regulations made under section 19 of this Act, or
(ii) where he has reasonable grounds for believing that more than five dogs which are aged over four months are kept,
and therein examine such dogs as he may find there and the kennels or part of the premises in which the dogs are kept;
(e) request any person who owns, is in charge of, or is in possession of a dog to produce, as the case may be, a dog licence or a general dog licence, within ten days of the date of the request, for examination by the dog warden.
(2) A dog warden, in exercising a power of entry into any premises under this Act, may bring with him into such premises such other persons as he believes to be necessary for the purpose of assisting him in the exercise of his powers and functions under this Act and the dog warden and any such other person may take with them into the premises such equipment as they consider to be necessary.
(3) Any person who—
(a) obstructs or impedes a dog warden in the exercise of his functions under this Act, or
(b) refuses to give his name and address to a dog warden when requested so to do, or who gives a name or address which is false or misleading when so requested,
shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to—
(i) in case the offence is an offence under paragraph (a) of this subsection, a fine not exceeding £500, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month, or, at the discretion of the court, to both such fine and such imprisonment, or
(ii) in case the offence is an offence under paragraph (b) of this subsection, a fine not exceeding £100.
(4) Where a member of the Garda Síochána is of opinion that a person is committing or has committed an offence under this section, he may arrest the person without warrant.
Bye-laws.
17.—(1) A local authority may make bye-laws relating to the control of dogs within its functional area.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) of this section, bye-laws made under this section may make provision for all or any of the following matters:
(a) require the person in charge of a dog to have the faeces removed immediately where the dog has fouled a public place which is situate in such part of the functional area of the local authority as may be specified in the bye-laws;
(b) specify areas in such part of the functional area of the local authority as may be specified in the bye-laws in which the person in charge of a dog shall be required to keep the dog on a leash;
(c) specify areas in such part of the functional area of the local authority as may be specified in the bye-laws in which a dog, other than a dog being used by a blind person or by a person whose eyesight is so defective that he is unable to find his way without guidance for guidance, shall not be allowed.
(3) Bye-laws made under this section may contain such incidental, supplementary and consequential provisions as appear to the local authority to be necessary.
(4) The provisions of sections 221 and 223 of the Public Health (Ireland) Act, 1878, shall apply to bye-laws made under this section as if these bye-laws made under this section were bye-laws made under that Act.
(5) Bye-laws made under this section shall not apply to a dog being used—
(a) in the execution of his duty by a member of the Garda Síochána, or
(b) for such other purpose as the Minister may prescribe.
(6) (a) Where any part of the boundary of the functional area of a local authority is a line of high water of the sea, or a tidal river, or a tidal lake, the local authority may, in making bye-laws under this section, extend the area of operation of such bye-laws to the foreshore, or to such part of the foreshore, as may be specified in the bye-laws.
(b) Where the area of operation of bye-laws is extended pursuant to this subsection, such extended area may be defined by reference to a map or otherwise.
(c) In this subsection “foreshore” has the meaning specified in the Foreshore Act, 1933.
Disqualification from keeping a dog.
18.—(1) Any person who is convicted under the Protection of Animals Acts, 1911 and 1965, of the offence of cruelty to a dog may, in addition to any penalty imposed under those Acts, be disqualified from keeping a dog for such period as the Court thinks fit.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in any enactment, where a person is so convicted and disqualified the Court may make such order as it thinks fit for the disposal or humane destruction of any dog kept by such person, and may order that the expense incurred in the disposal or humane destruction of a dog under this section, including the expense of any veterinary surgeon, shall be paid by the person convicted in addition to any other penalty which the Court may impose.
(3) Any person who makes default in the payment of any expenses ordered to be paid pursuant to subsection (2) of this section, shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month.
(4) Where the Court orders, pursuant to subsection (2) of this section, the destruction of a dog, the Court may direct that the dog be delivered to a dog warden or any suitable person for that purpose, and the person to whom the dog is delivered shall, as soon as possible, destroy the dog, or cause it to be destroyed, in a humane manner.
Regulation of premises and dogs.
19.—(1) The Minister may, by regulations, specify standards for premises in which more than five dogs aged over four months are kept and may make provision for the use and control of dogs.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) of this section, regulations under this section may—
(a) declare, in respect of any premises where more than five dogs aged over four months are kept, that such premises may not be used for such purpose as may be specified in the regulations unless such premises are registered with the relevant local authority;
(b) make provision, in relation to premises of the type referred to in paragraph (a) of this subsection, for—
(i) the form of the register of such premises to be maintained by a local authority;
(ii) the requirements to be complied with to enable any such premises to be registered;
(iii) the circumstances in which registration of any such premises may be refused or cancelled;
(iv) the construction and operation of kennels in any such premises;
(v) the keeping of records by the owner or occupier of such premises and the inspection of any such records;
(c) make provision for the regulation of the use of guard dogs in the course of business;
(d) make provision for the muzzling of dogs in specified circumstances and for the keeping of dogs under control;
(e) make provision for the identification of the ownership of dogs by the wearing by the dog of a collar or harness bearing the name and address of the owner inscribed thereon or on a plate, badge or disc attached thereto;
(f) make provision for any other means of the identification of dogs;
(g) require that a dog shall carry a means of licence identification whether by means of a disc, badge or plate attached to its collar or harness or by any other means;
(h) make provision for the exemption from all or any of the provisions of the regulations of an inspector (within the meaning of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1966) or other officer of the Minister for Agriculture, an officer of a local authority or a member of the Garda Síochána when a dog is in the possession of such person for the purposes of that Act.
Amendment of Protection of Animals Act, 1911.
20.—(1) Section 1 of the Protection of Animals Act, 1911, (as amended by section 4 of the Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act, 1965) is hereby amended by the deletion in subsection (1) of all words from “such person shall be guilty” to the end of the subsection and the substitution therefor of the following:
“such person shall be guilty of an offence of cruelty within the meaning of this Act and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof—
(i) in respect of a first or a second offence to a fine not exceeding £500, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, or, at the discretion of the Court, to both such fine and such imprisonment;
(ii) in respect of a third or any subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding £500, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or, at the discretion of the Court, to both such fine and such imprisonment.”.
(2) The Minister for Agriculture may by regulations vary the maximum amount of the fine specified in section 1 (as amended by this Act) of the Protection of Animals Act, 1911.
(3) Where regulations are proposed to be made under subsection (2) of this section, a draft of the regulations shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas and the regulations shall not be made until a resolution approving of the draft has been passed by each such House.
Liability of owner for damage by dog.
21.—(1) The owner of a dog shall be liable in damages for damage caused in an attack on any person by the dog and for injury done by it to any livestock; and it shall not be necessary for the person seeking such damages to show a previous mischievous propensity in the dog, or the owner's knowledge of such previous propensity, or to show that such injury or damage was attributable to neglect on the part of the owner.
(2) Where livestock are injured by a dog on land on to which they had strayed, and either the dog belonged to the occupier of the land or its presence on the land was authorised by the occupier, a person shall not be liable under this section in respect of injury done to the livestock, unless the person caused the dog to attack the livestock.
(3) A person is liable in damages for any damage caused by a dog kept on any premises or structure to a person trespassing thereon only in accordance with the rules of law relating to liability for negligence.
(4) (a) Any damage or injury for which a person is made liable under this section shall be deemed to be attributable to a wrong within the meaning of the Civil Liability Act, 1961, and the provisions of that Act shall apply accordingly.
(b) Sections 11 (2) (a) and 11 (2) (b) of the Statute of Limitations, 1957, shall apply to such damage.
Dangerous dogs.
22.—(1) Where—
(a) on a complaint being made to the District Court by any interested person that a dog is dangerous and not kept under proper control, or
(b) on the conviction of any person for an offence under section 9 (2) of this Act,
it appears to the Court that the dog is dangerous and not kept under proper control, the Court may, in addition to any other penalty which it may impose, order that the dog be kept under proper control or be destroyed.
(2) Whenever the Court orders the destruction of a dog pursuant to subsection (1) of this section, the Court may—
(a) direct that the dog be delivered to a dog warden or any suitable person to be destroyed, and
(b) direct that the expenses of the destruction of the dog be paid by the owner of the dog.
(3) Whenever a dog is delivered to a dog warden or any other person pursuant to an order of the Court to be destroyed, the person to whom the dog is delivered shall, as soon as possible, destroy the dog, or cause it to be destroyed, in a humane manner.
(4) Any sums payable by the owner of a dog pursuant to a direction of the Court under subsection (2) (b) of this section may be recovered by a local authority as a simple contract debt in any court of competent jurisdiction.
(5) Where a dog is proved to have caused damage in an attack on any person, or to have injured livestock, it may be dealt with under this section as a dangerous dog which has not been kept under proper control.
Defence in action for damages for shooting dog.
23.—(1) It shall be a defence to any action for damages against a person for the shooting of a dog, or to any charge arising out of the shooting of a dog, if the defendant proves that—
(a) the dog was shot when it was worrying, or was about to worry, livestock and that there were no other reasonable means of ending or preventing the worrying; or
(b) (i) the dog was a stray dog which was in the vicinity of a place where livestock had been injured or killed, and
(ii) the defendant reasonably believed that the dog had been involved in the injury or killing, and
(iii) there were no practicable means of seizing the dog or ascertaining to whom it belonged; and
(c) he was the person in charge of the livestock; and
(d) he notified within forty-eight hours the member in charge at the nearest Garda Station to the place where the dog was shot of the incident.
(2) The provisions of subsection (1) (a) and subsection (1) (b) (i) and (iii) of this section shall be deemed to have been satisfied if the defendant believed that those provisions had been satisfied and he had reasonable grounds for that belief.
Burial of carcases.
24.—(1) Subject to subsection (2) of this section, a person shall not without reasonable excuse permit the carcase of any livestock to remain unburied in any field or other place to which a dog can gain access.
(2) Subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to any carcase or part of a carcase which has been treated with poison in any case where the provisions of section 8 of the Protection of Animals Act, 1911 (as extended by section 14 of the Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act, 1965, and restricted by section 34 of the Wildlife Act, 1976) have been complied with.
Nuisance by barking dogs.
25.—(1) Where, on a complaint being made to the District Court by any person, it appears that a nuisance has been created as a result of excessive barking by a dog, the court may—
(a) order the occupier of the premises in which the dog is kept to abate the nuisance by exercising due control over the dog;
(b) make an order limiting for such period as may be specified in the order the number of dogs to be kept by the respondent on his premises;
(c) direct that the dog be delivered to a dog warden to be dealt with by him in accordance with the provisions of this Act as if the dog were an unwanted dog.
(2) Before any person makes a complaint to the District Court in relation to a nuisance caused by the excessive barking of a dog, he shall serve notice in the prescribed form, within such time as may be specified in the notice, of his intention to make such a complaint on the occupier of the premises in which the dog is kept.
Search warrants.
26.—(1) If a Justice of the District Court or a Peace Commissioner is satisfied by the information on oath of a member of the Garda Síochána that there were reasonable grounds for believing that—
(a) a dog has attacked a person or has worried livestock, and
(b) in consequence of the attack or the worrying, the owner of the dog has committed an offence under this Act, and
(c) a person is in possession in any premises of a dog which the member of the Garda Síochána has reasonable grounds for believing to be the dog involved in the said attack or the said worrying,
the District Justice or, as the case may be, the Peace Commissioner may issue a search warrant under this section.
(2) A search warrant under this section shall be expressed, and shall operate, to authorise the member of the Garda Síochána named in the search warrant, along with such other members of the Garda Síochána as may be necessary, to enter the premises specified in the search warrant and search for the dog.
(3) A member of the Garda Síochána who is authorised by a search warrant under this section to enter a premises may use such force as may be reasonably necessary to secure entry into the premises.
(4) Any dog which is found during a search pursuant to a search warrant under this section may be removed from the premises and detained by the Garda Síochána for examination.
Offences and penalities.
27.—(1) Any person who keeps a dog without a licence contrary to section 2 of this Act shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £100 in respect of each such dog kept by such person.
(2) Any person who—
(a) takes or transfers possession of a dog before the issue of a licence in respect of the dog contrary to section 2 of this Act, or
(b) fails to comply with the provisions of section 13 (1) or 13 (2) of this Act, or
(c) fails to produce a licence when requested so to do under section 16 of this Act by a dog warden, or
(d) is in breach of any bye-law made by a local authority under section 17 of this Act, or
(e) is in breach of any regulation relating to any matter specified in section 19 (2) (d), (e), (f) or (g) of this Act,
shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £100.
(3) Any person who—
(a) is in breach of any regulation made pursuant to section 19 (2) (a), (b) or (c) of this Act, or
(b) permits the carcase of any livestock to remain unburied contrary to section 24 of this Act,
shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £500.
(4) Any person who—
(a) fails to comply with the provisions of section 9 (1) of this Act, or
(b) fails to comply with the provisions of section 10 (1) of this Act, or
(c) leads, or causes or permits to be led by any one person more than four greyhounds at a time in a public place contrary to section 10 (2) of this Act, or
(d) keeps a dog while he is disqualified from holding a licence under section 18 of this Act,
shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding £500, or, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month, or, at the discretion of the court, to both such fine and such imprisonment.
(5) The Minister may, by regulations, vary the maximum amount of a fine specified in subsection (1), (2), (3) or (4) of this section or in section 9 or section 16 of this Act.
(6) Where regulations are proposed to be made under subsection (5) of this section, a draft of the regulations shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas and the regulations shall not be made until a resolution approving of the draft has been passed by each such House.
Provisions regarding certain offences.
28.—(1) Where a dog warden has reasonable grounds for believing that a person is committing or has committed an offence under section 27 (1), 27 (2) (a), 27 (4) (a), 27 (4) (b) or 27 (4) (c) of this Act, he may serve the person with a notice in the prescribed form stating that the person is alleged to have committed an offence and specifying the offence, and that the person may during the period of 21 days beginning on the date of the notice, make to the local authority specified in the notice a payment of the prescribed amount accompanied by the notice and that a prosecution in respect of the alleged offence will not be instituted during the period specified in the notice and, if the payment specified in the notice is made during that period, no prosecution in respect of the alleged offence will be instituted.
(2) Where notice is given under subsection (1) of this section—
(a) a person to whom the notice applies may, during the period specified in the notice, make to the local authority so specified the payment specified in the notice accompanied by the notice;
(b) the local authority specified in the notice may receive the payment, issue a receipt for it and retain the money so paid for disposal in accordance with this Act, and any payment so received shall not be recoverable in any circumstances by the person who made it;
(c) a prosecution in respect of the alleged offence shall not be instituted in the period specified in the notice, and, if the payment so specified is made during that period, no prosecution in respect of the alleged offence shall be instituted.
(3) In a prosecution for an offence under section 27 (1), 27 (2) (a), 27 (4) (a), 27 (4) (b) or 27 (4) (c) of this Act, the onus of proving that a payment pursuant to a notice under this section has been made shall lie on the defendant.
Amendment of Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act, 1965.
29.—Section 27 of the Protection of Animals (Amendment) Act, 1965, is hereby amended by the substitution for subsection (1) of the following subsection:
“(1) A person in respect of whom an order under section 26 (2) of this Act or under section 18 (1) of the Control of Dogs Act, 1986, is made may, at any time after the expiration of three months from the date of the order and from time to time, apply to the Court by which the order was made to remove the disqualification imposed by the order, and on any such application the Court may, if it thinks it proper, having regard to the character of the person disqualified, his conduct subsequent to the order, the nature of the offence and the other circumstances of the case, by order remove the disqualification as from such date as may be specified in the order.”.
Prosecution of offences.
30.—(1) An offence under this Act may be prosecuted by the local authority in whose area the offence was committed.
(2) In a prosecution under this Act in relation to the keeping of an unlicensed dog, it shall be presumed, until the contrary is shown by the defendant, that, at the time the alleged offence was committed, a licence was required in respect of the dog and that the defendant did not, at that time, hold a licence for that dog.
Regulations.
31.—(1) The Minister may make regulations for prescribing any matter referred to in this Act as prescribed or to be prescribed or in relation to any matter referred to in this Act as the subject of regulations (other than a regulation under section 20 of this Act).
(2) Every regulation made by the Minister under this Act, other than a regulation made under section 27 of this Act, shall be laid before each House of the Oireachtas as soon as may be after it is made and, if a resolution annulling the regulation is passed by either such House within the next twenty-one days on which that House has sat after the regulation is laid before it, the regulation shall be annulled accordingly but without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done thereunder.
(3) Every regulation made by the Minister under this Act may contain such incidental, supplementary and consequential provisions as appear to the Minister to be necessary.
Service of notices.
32.—Where a notice is required or authorised by this Act to be given to a person, the notice shall be addressed to that person and shall be given to him in one of the following ways:
(a) by delivering it to him,
(b) by leaving it at the address at which he ordinarily resides,
(c) by sending it by post in a prepaid registered letter addressed to him at the address at which he ordinarily resides.
Grants to local authorities and other bodies.
33.—The Minister may, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, make grants towards the expenses of a local authority incurred under this Act or to any person concerned with the provision of homes or shelters for stray or unwanted dogs or with the welfare of dogs.
Expenses of Minister.
34.—The expenses incurred by the Minister in the administration of this Act shall, to such extent as may be sanctioned by the Minister for Finance, be paid out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas.
Extension of Act to other animals.
35.—The Minister may by regulations extend the provisions of section 12 of this Act, of sections 15 (2) and 15 (4) of this Act and of section 33 of this Act to other species of animal, members of which are commonly domesticated.
Repeals.
36.—Each of the enactments specified in the Schedule to this Act is hereby repealed to the extent specified in the third column of that Schedule.
Short title and commencement.
37.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Control of Dogs Act, 1986.
(2) This Act or any specified provision of this Act shall come into operation on such day or days as the Minister may appoint by order.
SCHEDULE
Enactments Repealed
Session and Chapter or Number and Year | Short Title | Extent of Repeal |
2 & 3 Vict. c. 78 | Dublin Police Act, 1839 | Section 15. |
5 & 6 Vict. c. 24 | Dublin Police Act, 1842 | In section 14 (2), the words “or suffer to be at large any unmuzzled ferocious Dog, or set on or urge any Dog or other Animal to attack, worry, or put in Fear any Person, Horse, or other Animal”. |
10 & 11 Vict. c. 89 | Town Police Clauses Act, 1847 | In section 28, the words “Every Person who suffers to be at large any unmuzzled ferocious Dog, or sets on or urges any Dog or other Animal to attack, worry or put in fear any Person or Animal: Every Owner of any Dog who suffers such Dog to go at large, knowing or having reasonable Ground for believing it to be in a rabid State, or to have been bitten by any Dog or other Animal in a rabid State: Every Person, who after public Notice given by any Justice directing Dogs to be confined on account of Suspicion of canine Madness, suffers any Dog to be at large during the Time specified in such Notice:”. |
14 & 15 Vict. c. 92 | Summary Jurisdiction (Ireland) Act, 1851 | In section 10 (1) the words “or set on or urge any dog or other animal to attack or worry any person, horse, or other animal,” ; section 10 (7). |
17 & 18 Vict. c. 103 | Towns Improvement (Ireland) Act, 1854 | In section 72, the words “Every Person who suffers to be at large any unmuzzled ferocious Dog or sets on or urges any Dog or other Animal to attack, worry, or put in fear any Person or Animal, shall be liable to a Fine not exceeding Ten Shillings: Every Owner of any Dog who suffers such Dog to go at large, knowing or having reasonable Ground for believing it to be in a rabid State, or to have been bitten by any Dog or other Animal in a rabid State, shall be liable to a Fine not exceeding Ten Shillings: Every Person who, after public Notice given by any Justice or Justices at Petty Sessions, Chief Magistrate, or Chairman of Commissioners, directing Dogs to be confined on account of Suspicion of canine Madness, suffers any Dog to be at large during the Time specified in such Notice, shall be liable to a Fine not exceeding Ten Shillings:”. |
1871, c. 56 | Dogs Act, 1871 | The whole Act. |
1906, c. 32 | Dogs Act, 1906 | The whole Act. |
No. 28 of 1925 | Sections 37 to 39. | |
No. 35 of 1926 | ||
No. 17 of 1960 | The whole Act. | |
No. 23 of 1963 | ||
No. 10 of 1965 | ||
No. 6 of 1966 | ||
No. 20 of 1976 | Paragraphs (d) and (k) of section 43 (1). | |
No. 15 of 1983 | ||
No. 11 of 1985 |
Uimhir 32 de 1986
AN tACHT UM RIALÚ MADRAÍ, 1986
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23. | Cosaint i gcaingean le haghaidh damáistí mar gheall ar mhadra a lámhach. |
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Achtacháin a Aisghairtear
Na hAchtanna dá dTagraítear | |
Dogs Act, 1871 | 1871, c. 56 |
Dogs Act, 1906 | 1906, c. 32 |
Dublin Police Act, 1839 | 2 & 3 Vict. c. 78 |
Dublin Police Act, 1842 | 5 & 6 Vict. c. 24 |
An tAcht Rialtais Áitiúil (Pleanáil agus Forbairt), 1976 | |
Protection of Animals Act, 1911 | 1911, c. 27 |
Na hAchtanna um Chosaint Ainmhithe, 1911 agus 1965 | |
Public Health (Ireland) Act, 1878 | 1878 c. 52 |
Summary Jurisdiction (Ireland) Act, 1851 | 14 & 15 Vict. c. 92 |
Towns Improvement (Ireland) Act, 1854 | 17 & 18 Vict. c. 103 |
Town Police Clauses Act, 1847 | 10 & 11 Vict. c. 89 |
Uimhir 32 de 1986
AN tACHT UM RIALÚ MADRAÍ, 1986
[An tiontú oifigiúil]
Léiriú.
1.—San Acht seo—
folaíonn “damáiste” bás aon duine nó díobháil d'aon duine (lena n-áirítear aon ghalar a thrúigtear do dhuine nó aon mháchail ar a staid coirp nó meabhrach) agus folaíonn sé díobháil do mhaoin nó díothú iomlán nó páirteach ar mhaoin;
ciallaíonn “diúscairt” díol nó tabhairt in aisce;
folaíonn “madra” soith d'aois ar bith nó madra d'aois ar bith;
ciallaíonn “ceadúnas madra” ceadúnas a thugann teideal do dhuine madra a choimeád;
ciallaíonn “maor madraí” duine a fhostaítear faoi alt 15 den Acht seo chun bheith ina mhaor madraí chun críocha an Achta seo;
ciallaíonn “ceadúnas madra ginearálta” ceadúnas a thugann teideal do dhuine líon neamhshonraithe madraí a choimeád;
folaíonn “cú” aon fhuipéad agus aon phór nó crosphór cú nó fuipéid;
folaíonn “ceadúnas”, de réir mar a éileoidh an comhthéacs, ceadúnas madra agus ceadúnas madra ginearálta;
ciallaíonn “beostoc” eallach, caoirigh, muca, capaill agus gach eachainmhí eile, éanlaith chlóis, gabhair agus fianna nach bhfuil sa staid fhiáin;
ciallaíonn “údarás áitiúil”—
(a) i gcás chontae riaracháin Bhaile Átha Cliath, seachas buirg Dhún Laoghaire, comhairle chontae Bhaile Átha Cliath,
(b) i gcás bhuirg Dhún Laoghaire, bardas na buirge,
(c) i gcás contaebhuirge, bardas na contaebhuirge, agus
(d) i gcás aon chontae riaracháin eile, comhairle an chontae,
agus forléireofar dá réir sin tagairtí do limistéar feidhme údaráis áitiúil agus folóidh údarás áitiúil, de réir mar a éileoidh an comhthéacs, aon duine eile a ndearna údarás áitiúil comhshocraíocht leis de bhun alt 15 den Acht seo;
ciallaíonn “an tAire” an tAire Comhshaoil;
folaíonn “áititheoir” duine is úinéir agus is áititheoir, chomh maith le duine nach bhfuil ach ina áititheoir, ar aon áitreabh agus i ndáil le haon talamh folaíonn sé duine a shealbhaíonn talamh faoi ligean i gconacra nó chun críocha reachtaireachta nó dífhéarú díomuan;
folaíonn “úinéir”, i ndáil le madra, áititheoir aon áitribh ina gcoimeádtar an madra nó ina gceadaítear dó cónaí nó fanacht ag aon tráth áirithe mura gcruthaíonn an t-áititheoir sin a mhalairt: Ar choinníoll, i gcónaí, i gcás níos mó ná aon teaghais amháin a bheith in aon teach, go nglacfar leis gurb é áititheoir na teaghaise ina gcoimeádtar an madra nó ina gceadaítear dó cónaí nó fanacht, an t-úinéir go dtí go gcruthófar a mhalairt;
folaíonn “duine i bhfeighil beostoic” áititheoir aon talún ar a gcoimeádtar an beostoc, nó úinéir an bheostoic nó aon duine de líon tí an áititheora nó an úinéara sin nó aon duine a bheidh údaraithe ag aon duine acu chun dul i bhfeighil an bheostoic;
ciallaíonn “éanlaith chlóis” turcaithe, géanna, lachain, cearca guine, colúir, péacóga agus éanlaith chlóis eile agus folaíonn sé, fad a bheidh siad i mbraighdeanas, piasúin, patraiscí, cearca fraoigh agus gearga;
folaíonn “áitreabh” aon teach nó talamh;
ciallaíonn “forordaithe” forordaithe le rialacháin arna ndéanamh ag an Aire;
ciallaíonn “áit phoiblí” aon sráid, bóthar, cladach, páirc, talamh, gort nó áit eile ar a mbíonn rochtain ag an bpobal, cibé acu an de cheart nó le cead é agus cibé acu faoi réir muirir nó saor ó mhuirear é;
ciallaíonn “aimridiú” buan-éagumasú le haghaidh pórú;
tá le “madra fáin” an bhrí a shanntar dó le halt 11 den Acht seo;
ciallaíonn “Ceannfort den Gharda Síochána” an Ceannfort den Gharda Síochána don limistéar ina bhfuil, ina bhfaightear nó ina lámhachtar madra;
ciallaíonn “tréidlia” aon duine atá cáilithe go dleathach chun tréidliacht a chleachtadh sa Stát;
ciallaíonn “ciapadh”, i ndáil le beostoc, beostoc a ionsaí nó a mharú nó a sheilg ar shlí a bhféadfaí bheith ag súil le réasún go mbeadh sé ina chúis bháis nó díobhála nó fulaingthe don bheostoc nó go dtarlódh caillteanas airgid d'úinéir an bheostoic dá dheasca.
Toirmeasc ar mhadra a choimeád gan cheadúnas.
2.—(1) Faoi réir alt 5 den Acht seo, beidh sé neamhdhleathach d'aon duine—
(a) madra a choimeád mura mbeidh ina sheilbh aige—
(i) ceadúnas madra le haghaidh an mhadra sin, nó
(ii) ceadúnas madra ginearálta, nó
(b) mura sealbhóir é ar cheadúnas madra ginearálta, seilbh a ghlacadh ar mhadra, de bhun athrú úinéireachta, sula n-eiseofar ceadúnas madra i leith an mhadra sin, nó
(c) seilbh ar mhadra a aistriú, de bhun athrú úinéireachta, chuig aon duine eile mura sealbhóir an duine eile ar cheadúnas madra le haghaidh an mhadra sin nó ar cheadúnas madra ginearálta.
(2) Measfar chun críocha an ailt seo, maidir le háititheoir aon áitribh ina bhfaighfear madra, gurb é an duine é a choimeádann an madra mura gcruthaíonn sé—
(a) nach é úinéir an mhadra é, agus
(b) gur coimeádadh an madra san áitreabh—
(i) i ngan fhios dó, nó
(ii) ag duine éigin eile a raibh ceadúnas aige le haghaidh an mhadra.
Ceadúnais a eisiúint.
3.—(1) Is é a eiseoidh ceadúnas madra chuig duine an t-údarás áitiúil don limistéar feidhme ina gcoimeádtar an madra tráth eisiúna an cheadúnais nó ina mbeartaítear é a choimeád tar éis an ceadúnas a eisiúint.
(2) Is é an t-údarás áitiúil a eiseoidh ceadúnas madra ginearálta chuig duine agus bainfidh sé le gach madra a choimeádfaidh an duine sin laistigh de limistéar feidhme an údaráis áitiúil.
(3) Féadfaidh údarás áitiúil, le toiliú an Aire, comhshocraíochtaí a dhéanamh le haon duine eile chun ceadúnais a eisiúint thar a cheann.
(4) Measfar chun gach críche gur ceadúnas a eisíodh faoin Acht seo ceadúnas a eisíodh, roimh thosach feidhme an Achta seo, de bhun alt 37 den Acht Airgid, 1925.
Daoine atá dícháilithe chun ceadúnas a shealbhú.
4.—Ní eiseoidh údarás áitiúil ceadúnas madra ná ceadúnas madra ginearálta chuig aon duine—
(a) atá faoi bhun sé bliana déag d'aois, nó
(b) atá dícháilithe, de bhun alt 18 den Acht seo, chun madra a choimeád.
Díolúine ó cheadúnas a shealbhú.
5.—Ní gá ceadúnas i leith aon mhadra—
(a) fad a bhíonn an madra sin ina sheilbh ag an údarás áitiúil;
(b) fad a bhíonn an madra sin ina sheilbh ag an gCumann Éireannach um Fhóirithint ar Ainmhithe nó ag aon duine eile a ndearna údarás áitiúil comhshocraíocht leis de bhun alt 15 den Acht seo;
(c) a bhíonn á choimeád ag an nGarda Síochána agus a bhíonn á úsáid go hiomlán ag comhalta den Gharda Síochána i bhfeidhmiú a dhualgais;
(d) a choimeádtar chun críche treorach ag duine dall nó ag duine a bhfuil a radharc chomh holc sin nach bhfuil ar a chumas a bhealach a dhéanamh thart gan treoir, agus a úsáideann duine den sórt sin go hiomlán nó go formhór chun na críche sin;
(e) atá faoi bhun ceithre mhí d'aois agus a choimeádtar lena mháthair nó lena mháthair altrama;
(f) fad a bhíonn an madra sin ina sheilbh ag cigire (de réir bhrí an Achta um Ghalair Ainmhithe, 1966) nó ag oifigeach eile don Aire Talmhaíochta nó ag comhalta den Gharda Síochána chun críocha an Achta sin;
(g) a allmhairítear isteach sa Stát ar feadh tréimhse nach faide ná tríocha lá;
(h) ar cú é a cheannaítear lena onnmhairiú agus a onnmhairítear as an Stát laistigh de thríocha lá tar éis dháta an cheannaigh;
(i) a choimeádann cibé aicme eile duine a bheidh forordaithe ag an Aire.
Ceadúnas madra a aistriú.
6.—(1) Féadfar ceadúnas madra a eiseofar chuig duine i leith madra, a aistriú chuig aon duine eile nuair a aistreofar seilbh ar an madra chuig an duine eile sin.
(2) Ní bheidh feidhm ag fo-alt (1) den alt seo in aon chás ina n-aistreofar úinéireacht an mhadra chuig aon duine eile.
Ré an cheadúnais.
7.—Beidh ceadúnas madra nó ceadúnas madra ginearálta san fhoirm fhorordaithe agus beidh sé bailí don tréimhse dhá mhí dhéag ó dháta a eisiúna.
Táille le haghaidh ceadúnais.
8.—(1) Beidh na táillí seo a leanas iníoctha le húdarás áitiúil maidir le ceadúnas madra nó ceadúnas madra ginearálta a eisiúint, is é sin le rá—
(a) maidir le ceadúnas madra a eisiúint, táille £5, agus
(b) maidir le ceadúnas madra ginearálta a eisiúint, táille £100.
(2) Féadfaidh an tAire, le rialacháin, na rátaí a shonraítear i bhfo-alt (1) den alt seo a athrú agus rátaí éagsúla maidir le haicmí éagsúla madraí a shonrú.
Rialú madraí.
9.—(1) Ní cheadóidh úinéir madra ná aon duine eile a bheidh i bhfeighil madra madra a bheith in aon áit seachas—
(a) in áitreabh an úinéara, nó
(b) in áitreabh cibé duine eile a bheidh i bhfeighil an mhadra, nó
(c) in áitreabh aon duine eile, le toiliú an duine sin,
mura ndéanfaidh an t-úinéir nó an duine eile sin a bheidh i bhfeighil an mhadra é a thionlacan agus é a choimeád faoi rialú éifeachtúil.
(2) Má chiapann madra beostoc beidh an t-úinéir nó aon duine eile a bheidh i bhfeighil an mhadra ciontach i gcion mura suífear gur chiap an madra an beostoc ag an tráth ábhartha chun beostoc bradaíola a thabhairt chun siúil agus go raibh an gníomh réasúnach agus riachtanach ag féachaint d'imthosca uile an cháis.
(3) Aon duine a bheidh ciontach i gcion faoi fho-alt (2) den alt seo dlífear ar é a chiontú go hachomair fíneáil nach mó ná £500 nó príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná mí amháin, nó, de rogha na cúirte, an fhíneáil agus an phríosúnacht sin le chéile, a chur air.
Rialú cúnna.
10.—(1) Ní cheadóidh duine cú a bheith in aon áit phoiblí mura mbeidh an cú sin ar éill nó ar slabhra a bheidh sách láidir.
(2) Ní bheidh níos mó ná ceithre chú sa turas ar éill ag duine in aon áit phoiblí ná ní chuirfidh sé faoi deara ná ní cheadóidh sé d'aon duine amháin níos mó ná ceithre chú sa turas a bheith ar éill aige in aon áit phoiblí.
Madraí fáin.
11.—(1) Déanfaidh maor madraí gach beart réasúnach chun aon mhadra is dóigh leis is madra fáin a urghabháil agus a choinneáil agus féadfaidh sé dul isteach in aon áitreabh (seachas teaghais) chun críche na hurghabhála agus na coinneála sin.
(2) Féadfaidh comhalta den Gharda Síochána aon mhadra is dóigh leis is madra fáin a urghabháil agus a choinneáil agus féadfaidh sé dul isteach in aon áitreabh (seachas teaghais) chun críche na hurghabhála agus na coinneála sin.
(3) Aon uair a dhéanfaidh comhalta den Gharda Síochána madra a urghabháil nó a choinneáil de bhun fho-alt (2) den alt seo, féadfaidh sé an madra a sheachadadh ar an údarás áitiúil ar ina limistéar feidhme a fuarthas an madra.
(4) Aon uair a dhéanfaidh maor madraí nó comhalta den Gharda Síochána madra fáin a urghabháil nó a choinneáil de bhun an ailt seo, tabharfaidh an t-údarás áitiúil, nó, de réir mar a bheidh, an Ceannfort den Gharda Síochána, fógra don úinéir nó don duine eile i bhfeighil an mhadra, má bhíonn ainm an úineára sin nó an duine eile sin ar eolas ag an údarás nó ag an gCeannfort nó más féidir é a fhionnadh go héasca, go ndearnadh an madra a urghabháil agus a choinneáil agus go ndéanfar é a dhiúscairt nó a dhíothú, tar éis cúig lá ó dháta an fhógra a thabhairt, mura n-éileofar an madra agus mura ndéanfaidh an t-úinéir nó, de réir mar a bheidh, an duine i bhfeighil an mhadra gach costas a bhain lena urghabháil agus lena choinneáil a íoc.
(5) Má éilíonn aon duine madra a urghabhadh agus a coinníodh de bhun an ailt seo, tabharfaidh an t-údarás áitiúil nó an Ceannfort den Gharda Síochána an madra don duine sin—
(a) má shásaíonn an duine sin an t-údarás áitiúil nó an Ceannfort den Gharda Síochána, de réir mar a bheidh, gurb é úinéir an mhadra é nó gur údaraigh an t-úinéir dó an madra a éileamh,
(b) má dhearbhaíonn an duine sin san fhoirm fhorordaithe gurb é an t-úinéir sin é nó gur údaraíodh dó amhlaidh an madra a éileamh, agus
(c) má íocann an duine sin méid an chostais a thabhaigh an t-údarás áitiúil nó an Garda Síochána maidir le hurghabháil agus coinneáil an mhadra.
(6) Aon uair a dhéanfaidh maor madraí nó comhalta den Gharda Síochána madra fáin a urghabháil nó a choinneáil de bhun an ailt seo, cuirfidh an t-údarás áitiúil nó, de réir mar a bheidh, an Ceannfort den Gharda Síochána faoi deara taifead a dhéanamh sa chlár a cheanglaítear a choimeád faoi alt 14 den Acht seo.
(7) Cúig lá tar éis taifead a dhéanamh sa chlár de bhun fho-alt (6) den alt seo, nó tar éis fógra a thabhairt de bhun fho-alt (4) den alt seo, cibé acu is déanaí, féadfaidh an t-údarás áitiúil nó an Ceannfort den Gharda Síochána, de réir mar a bheidh, mura mbeidh an madra tugtha d'aon duine de bhun fho-alt (5) den alt seo agus gach costas a bhain lena urghabháil agus lena choinneáil íoctha ag aon duine, an madra a dhiúscairt faor réir fho-alt (8) den alt seo, nó socrú a dhéanamh lena dhíothú ar shlí dhaonnachtúil.
(8) Ní dhéanfaidh údarás áitiúil ná Ceannfort den Gharda Síochána, de réir mar a bheidh, madra a dhiúscairt de bhun fho-alt (7) den alt seo chun críocha turgnamh ar ainmhithe.
(9) Féadfaidh údarás áitiúil, sula ndéanfaidh sé madra a dhiúscairt faoin alt seo, an madra a aimridiú nó socrú a dhéanamh lena aimridiú.
(10) Má dhiúscraíonn údarás áitiúil nó Ceannfort den Gharda Síochána madra faoin alt seo, is é an duine dá dtabharfar an madra a bheidh ina úinéir air agus air sin éagfaidh teideal a úinéara roimhe sin.
(11) San Acht seo folaíonn “madra fáin” aon mhadra a ndealraíonn sé nach mbeidh duine leis mura mbeidh an madra sin in áitreabh a úinéara nó in áitreabh duine éigin eile atá i bhfeighil an mhadra nó in áitreabh aon duine eile le toiliú an duine sin.
(12) Féadfaidh an tAire, le rialacháin, an tréimhse laethanta a shonraítear i bhfo-ailt (4) agus (7) den alt seo a athrú.
Madraí nach dteastaíonn.
12.—(1) Féadfaidh údarás áitiúil madra nach dteastaíonn a ghlacadh óna úinéir nó ó dhuine a bheidh údaraithe ag an úinéir agus féadfaidh sé, faoi réir fho-alt (2) den alt seo, an madra sin a dhiúscairt nó socrú a dhéanamh lena dhíothú ar shlí dhaonnachtúil.
(2) Ní dhéanfaidh údarás áitiúil madra a dhiúscairt de bhun fho-alt (1) den alt seo chun críocha turgnamh ar ainmhithe.
(3) Féadfaidh údarás áitiúil, sula ndéanfaidh sé madra a dhiúscairt faoin alt seo, an madra a aimridiú nó socrú a dhéanamh lena aimridiú.
(4) Má dhiúscraíonn údarás áitiúil madra faoin alt seo is é an duine dá dtabharfar an madra a bheidh ina úinéir air agus air sin éagfaidh teideal an úinéara roimhe sin.
Teacht ar mhadraí fáin.
13.—(1) Aon duine seachas maor madraí nó comhalta den Gharda Síochána a thagann ar mhadra fáin agus a ghlacann seilbh air déanfaidh sé, láithreach—
(a) an madra a thabhairt ar ais dá úinéir, nó
(b) an madra a sheachadadh ar mhaor madraí, nó
(c) an madra a choinneáil agus fógra i scríbhinn ina mbeidh tuairisc ar an madra, seoladh na háite inar thángthas air agus seoladh na háite ina bhfuil sé á choinneáil, a thabhairt don chomhalta i gceannas ag an Stáisiún Garda is gaire don áit inar thángthas ar an madra, nó do mhaor madraí.
(2) Go háirithe agus gan dochar d'fhorálacha fho-alt (1) den alt seo, i gcás go mbeidh forais réasúnacha ag aon duine lena chreidiúint gur chiap madra fáin beostoc nó go bhfuil sé ar tí beostoc a chiapadh, féadfaidh an duine sin an madra a urghabháil agus seachadfaidh sé é láithreach ar mhaor madraí.
(3) I gcás gur tháinig duine ar mhadra fáin agus gur choimeád sé seilbh ar an madra ar feadh bliana tar éis an dáta ar thug sé an fógra dá dtagraítear i bhfo-alt (1) den alt seo, agus nach ndearna a úinéir an madra a éileamh laistigh den bhliain sin, is é an duine sin a bheidh ina úinéir ar an madra agus air sin éagfaidh teideal an úinéara roimhe sin chun an mhadra.
(4) Ní bheidh feidhm ag fo-alt (3) den alt seo más rud é, i rith na tréimhse bliana a shonraítear san fho-alt sin, go bhfaighidh an duine a tháinig ar an madra amach cé hé úinéir an mhadra agus leis sin cuirfidh an duine sin in iúl don úinéir go bhfuil an madra ina sheilbh agus go bhféadfar an madra a bhailiú uaidh.
(5) D'ainneoin fhorálacha alt 2 den Acht seo, ní cheanglófar ar dhuine nach sealbhóir ar cheadúnas madra ginearálta agus a choinníonn madra fáin de bhun an ailt seo, ceadúnas madra a bhaineann leis an madra sin a fháil go dtí go mbeidh an madra coimeádta ina sheilbh aige ar feadh tréimhse ocht lá is fiche ar a laghad agus forléireofar an t-alt sin 2 agus beidh éifeacht leis dá réir sin.
Madraí urghafa a chlárú.
14.—(1) Coimeádfaidh gach údarás áitiúil clár de gach madra—
(a) a d'urghabh maor madraí a bheidh fostaithe aige, agus
(b) a choinnigh aon duine eile agus a cuireadh in iúl don mhaor madraí sin.
(2) Coimeádfaidh gach Ceannfort den Gharda Síochána clár de gach madra—
(a) a d'urghabh comhalta den Gharda Síochána a bheidh faoina urláimh, agus
(b) a choinnigh aon duine eile agus a cuireadh in iúl don chomhalta i gceannas ar aon stáisiún Garda laistigh dá limistéar, agus
(c) a lámhach aon duine agus a tuairiscíodh don chomhalta i gceannas ar aon Stáisiún Garda laistigh dá limistéar.
(3) Gach clár a chothabhálfar faoin alt seo beidh na sonraí seo a leanas le fáil ann, is é sin le rá:
(a) tuairisc ar an madra;
(b) i gcás madra a d'urghabh maor madraí nó comhalta den Gharda Síochána, an dáta a urghabhadh an madra agus sonraí maidir leis an tslí inar diúscraíodh an madra nó, de réir mar a bheidh, inar díothaíodh é;
(c) i gcás madra a choinnigh aon duine eile, an dáta ar cuireadh an choinneáil in iúl don mhaor madraí nó don chomhalta i gceannas ar an Stáisiún Garda áirithe, de réir mar a bheidh, an áit inar thángthas ar an madra agus an áit a bhfuil an madra á choinneáil.
(4) Beidh gach clár a bheidh á chothabháil faoin alt seo ar oscailt lena iniúchadh gach tráth réasúnach ag aon duine leasmhar.
(5) Déanfar gach taifead i gclár a bheidh á chothabháil faoin alt seo a choimeád ann ar feadh tréimhse bliana ar a laghad.
Dualgais údaráis áitiúil.
15.—(1) Fostóidh gach údarás áitiúil duine amháin nó níos mó le bheith mar mhaoir mhadraí chun críocha an Achta seo agus tabharfar deimhniú maidir lena cheapachán do gach duine a bheidh fostaithe amhlaidh agus nuair a bheidh cumhacht faoin Acht seo á fheidhmiú aige, déanfaidh sé, má iarrann aon duine ar a bhfearann sé air é, an deimhniú sin a thabhairt ar aird lena iniúchadh ag an duine.
(2) Bunóidh agus cothabhálfaidh gach údarás áitiúil dídean amháin nó níos mó le haghadh madraí a urghabhfar, a ghlacfar nó a choinneofar faoi aon cheann d'fhorálacha an Achta seo agus féadfaidh sé, le toiliú an Aire, comhshocraíochtaí a dhéanamh le haon duine chun na dídeana sin a chur ar fáil agus a chothabháil agus chun feidhmeanna an údaráis áitiúil faoin Acht seo maidir le glacadh, coinneáil, diúscairt agus díothú madraí fáin agus madraí nach dteastaíonn a fheidhmiú ag an duine sin.
(3) Faoi réir fhorálacha an Achta seo, féadfaidh údarás áitiúil comhshocraíochtaí a dhéanamh le haon údarás áitiúil eile nó leis an gCumann Éireannach um Fhóirithint ar Ainmhithe nó, le toiliú an Aire, le duine a bheidh bainteach le leas ainmhithe chun go ndéanfaidh an t-údarás áitiúil eile sin, an Cumann sin, nó an duine eile sin, de réir mar a bheidh, gach feidhm nó aon fheidhm de chuid an údaráis áitiúil faoin Acht seo, seachas a chuid feidhmeanna faoi alt 17 nó alt 30 den Acht seo, a fheidhmiú.
(4) Féadfaidh údarás áitiúil cuidiú le haon duine a chuireann tearmainn nó dídeana ar fáil do mhadraí fáin nó do mhadraí nach dteastaíonn trí chúnamh a thabhairt don duine sin in airgead nó i gcomhchineál nó trí sheirbhísí nó saoráidí (lena n-áirítear seirbhísí foirne) a chur ar fáil.
Cumhachtaí maor madraí.
16.—(1) Féadfaidh maor madraí—
(a) más rud é go mbeidh forais réasúnacha aige lena chreidiúint go bhfuil cion á dhéanamh ag duine nó déanta ag duine faoin Acht seo nó faoi aon rialachán nó fodhlí arna dhéanamh faoin Acht seo, a ainm agus a sheoladh a iarraidh ar an duine agus féadfaidh sé a iarraidh air aon eolas a thabharfar a fhíorú;
(b) aon mhadra a urghabháil agus a choinneáil chun a fhionnadh an bhfuil cion faoin Acht seo á dhéanamh nó déanta agus féadfaidh sé dul isteach in aon áitreabh (seachas teaghais) chun an urghabháil agus an choinneáil sin a dhéanamh;
(c) dul isteach in aon áitreabh (seachas teaghais) chun cosc nó deireadh a chur—
(i) le haon ionsaí ó mhadra ar aon duine, nó
(ii) le ciapadh beostoic;
(d) dul isteach in aon áitreabh (seachas teaghais)—
(i) atá cláraithe de réir rialachán arna ndéanamh faoi alt 19 den Acht seo, nó
(ii) má bhíonn forais réasúnacha aige lena chreidiúint go bhfuil níos mó ná cúig mhadra atá os cionn ceithre mhí d'aois á gcoimeád ann,
agus scrúdú a dhéanamh ann ar cibé madraí a gheobhaidh sé ann agus ar na conchróite nó ar an gcuid den áitreabh ina bhfuil na madraí á gcoimeád;
(e) a iarraidh ar aon duine ar leis madra nó atá i bhfeighil nó i seilbh madra ceadúnas madra nó ceadúnas madra ginearálta, de réir mar a bheidh, a thabhairt ar aird laistigh de dheich lá ó dháta na hiarrata, lena scrúdú ag an maor madraí.
(2) Féadfaidh maor madraí, i bhfeidhmiú cumhachta chun dul isteach in aon áitreabh faoin Acht seo, cibé daoine eile is dóigh leis a bheith riachtanach chun cuidiú leis i bhfeidhmiú a chuid cumhachtaí agus feidhmeanna faoin Acht seo a thabhairt leis isteach san áitreabh sin agus féadfaidh an maor madraí agus aon duine eile den sórt sin cibé trealamh a mheasfaidh siad a bheith riachtanach a thabhairt leo isteach san áitreabh.
(3) Aon duine—
(a) a bhacfaidh nó a choiscfidh maor madraí i bhfeidhmiú a fheidhmeanna faoin Acht seo, nó
(b) a dhiúltóidh a ainm agus a sheoladh a thabhairt do mhaor madraí nuair a iarrtar air sin a dhéanamh nó a thugann ainm nó seoladh atá bréagach nó míthreorach nuair a iarrtar sin air,
beidh sé ciontach i gcion agus dlífear ar é a chiontú go hachomair—
(i) i gcás gur cion faoi mhír (a) den fho-alt seo an cion, fíneáil nach mó ná £500, nó príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná mí amháin, nó, de rogha na cúirte, an fhíneáil sin agus an phríosúnacht sin le chéile, a chur air, nó
(ii) i gcás gur cion faoi mhír (b) den fho-alt seo an cion, fíneáil nach mó ná £100 a chur air.
(4) Má bhíonn comhalta den Gharda Síochána den tuairim go bhfuil cion á dhéanamh ag duine nó déanta ag duine faoin alt seo féadfaidh sé an duine a ghabháil gan bharántas.
Fodhlíthe.
17.—(1) Féadfaidh údarás áitiúil fodhlíthe a dhéanamh a bhaineann le madraí a rialú laistigh dá limistéar feidhme.
(2) Gan dochar do ghinearáltacht fho-alt (1) den alt seo, féadfaidh fodhlíthe a dhéanfar faoin alt seo foráil a dhéanamh le haghaidh aon ní nó gach ní de na nithe seo a leanas:
(a) a cheangal ar an duine i bhfeighil madra an faecas a aistriú láithreach más rud é gur shalaigh an madra áit phoiblí atá suite i cibé cuid de limistéar feidhme an údaráis áitiúil a bheidh sonraithe sna fodhlíthe;
(b) limistéir a shonrú i cibé cuid de limistéar feidhme an údaráis áitiúil a bheidh sonraithe sna fodhlíthe ina gceanglófar ar an duine a bheidh i bhfeighil madra an madra a choimeád ar éill;
(c) limistéir a shonrú i cibé cuid de limistéar feidhme an údaráis áitiúil a bheidh sonraithe sna fodhlíthe nach gceadófar madra iontu, seachas madra a bheidh á úsáid le haghaidh treorach ag duine dall nó ag duine a bhfuil a radharc chomh holc sin nach bhfuil ar a chumas a bhealach a dhéanamh gan treoir.
(3) Beidh sna fodhlíthe a dhéanfar faoin alt seo cibé forálacha teagmhasacha, forlíontacha agus iarmhartacha is dóigh leis an údarás áitiúil a bheith riachtanach.
(4) Beidh feidhm ag forálacha ailt 221 agus 223 den Public Health (Ireland) Act, 1878, maidir le fodhlíthe a dhéanfar faoin alt seo amhail is dá mba fhodhlíthe a rinneadh faoin Acht sin na fodhlíthe seo a dhéanfar faoin alt seo.
(5) Ní bheidh feidhm ag fodhlíthe a dhéanfar faoin alt seo maidir le madra a bheidh á úsáid—
(a) ag comhalta den Gharda Síochána i bhfeidhmiú a dhualgais, nó
(b) le haghaidh cibé críoch eile a fhorordóidh an tAire.
(6) (a) Más rud é gur líne bharr láin farraige nó abhainn taoide, nó loch taoide, aon chuid de theorainn limistéir feidhme údaráis áitiúil, féadfaidh an t-údarás áitiúil, agus fodhlíthe á ndéanamh aige faoin alt seo, an limistéar ina bhfeidhmeofar na fodhlíthe sin a leathnú go dtí an urthrá nó go dtí cibé cuid den urthrá a shonrófar sna fodhlíthe.
(b) Más rud é go ndéanfar an limistéar ina bhfeidhmeofar na fodhlíthe a leathnú de bhun an fho-ailt seo féadfar an limistéar leathnaithe sin a shainmhíniú trí thagairt do léarscáil nó ar shlí eile.
(c) San fho-alt seo tá le “urthrá” an bhrí a shonraítear do “imeall trágha” san Acht Imeall Trágha, 1933.
Dícháiliú chun madra a choimeád.
18.—(1) Aon duine a chiontófar faoi na hAchtanna um Chosaint Ainmhithe, 1911 agus 1965, i gcion cruálachta ar mhadra féadfar, i dteannta aon phionóis a fhorchuirfear faoi na hAchtanna seo, é a dhícháiliú chun madra a choimeád go ceann cibé tréimhse is cuí leis an gCúirt.
(2) D'ainneoin aon ní in aon achtachán, nuair a chiontófar agus a dhícháileofar duine amhlaidh, féadfaidh an Chúirt cibé ordú is cuí léi a dhéanamh chun aon mhadra atá á choimeád ag an duine sin a dhiúscairt nó a dhíothú go daonnachtúil agus féadfaidh sí a ordú go mbeidh an caiteachas faoina rachfar ag diúscairt an mhadra nó á dhíothú go daonnachtúil faoin alt seo, lena n-áirítear costas aon tréidlia, le híoc ag an duine a chiontófar i dteannta aon phionóis eile a chuirfidh an Chúirt air.
(3) Aon duine a mhainneoidh aon chaiteachais a íoc a ordaítear a íoc de bhun fho-alt (2) den alt seo beidh sé ciontach i gcion agus ar é a chiontú go hachomair ann dlífear príosúnacht go ceann tréimhse nach faide ná mí a chur air.
(4) Má ordaíonn an Chúirt de bhun fho-alt (2) den alt seo madra a dhíothú, féadfaidh an Chúirt ordú a thabhairt an madra a sheachadadh ar mhaor madraí nó ar aon duine oiriúnach chun na críche sin, agus, a luaithe is féidir, déanfaidh an duine ar a seachadfar an madra an madra a dhíothú, nó a chur faoi deara é a dhíothú, ar shlí dhaonnachtúil.
Áitreabh agus madraí a rialáil.
19.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire, le rialacháin, caighdeáin a shonrú le haghaidh áitribh ina gcoimeádtar níos mó ná cúig mhadra os cionn ceithre mhí d'aois agus féadfaidh sé socrú a dhéanamh chun madraí a úsáid agus a rialú.
(2) Gan dochar do ghinearáltacht fho-alt (1) den alt seo, féadfaidh rialacháin faoin alt seo—
(a) a dhearbhú, maidir le haon áitreabh ina bhfuil níos mó na cúig mhadra os cionn ceithre mhí d'aois á gcoimeád, nach bhféadfar an t-áitreabh sin a úsáid chun cibé críche a shonrófar sna rialacháin mura mbeidh an t-áitreabh sin cláraithe leis an údarás áitiúil iomchuí;
(b) socrú a dhéanamh, i ndáil le háitribh den chineál dá dtagraítear i mír (a) den fho-alt seo—
(i) le haghaidh foirm chlár na n-áitreabh sin a bheidh le cothabháil ag údarás áitiúil;
(ii) le haghaidh na gceanglas a bheidh le comhlíonadh chun go bhféadfar aon áitreabh den sórt sin a chlárú;
(iii) maidir leis na himthosca ina bhféadfar clárú aon áitribh den sórt sin a dhiúltú nó a chealú;
(iv) chun conchróite a thógáil agus a oibriú in aon áitreabh den sórt sin;
(v) chun go gcoimeádfaidh úinéir nó áititheoir an áitribh sin taifid agus chun go ndéanfar aon taifid den sórt sin a iniúchadh;
(c) socrú a dhéanamh maidir le húsáid madraí gardála le linn gnó a rialáil;
(d) socrú a dhéanamh chun féasrach a chur ar mhadraí in imthosca sonraithe agus chun madraí a choimeád faoi smacht;
(e) socrú a dhéanamh chun úinéireacht madraí a aithint trí choiléar nó úim a bheith ar mhadra a mbeidh ainm agus seoladh an úineára greanta air nó ar phláta, suaitheantas nó diosca a bheidh daingnithe de;
(f) socrú a dhéanamh chun madraí a aithint ar aon slí eile;
(g) a cheangal go mbeidh deis chun ceadúnas a aithint ar iompar ag madra cibé acu trí dhiosca, suaitheantas nó pláta a bheith daingnithe dá choiléar nó dá úim nó trí bhealach ar bith eile;
(h) socrú a dhéanamh chun díolúine ó gach foráil nó ó aon fhoráil d'fhorálacha na rialachán a thabhairt do chigire (de réir bhrí an Achta um Ghalair Ainmhithe, 1966) nó d'oifigeach eile don Aire Talmhaíochta, d'oifigeach d'údarás áitiúil nó do chomhalta den Gharda Síochána nuair a bheidh madra i seilbh duine den sórt sin chun críocha an Achta sin.
Leasú ar an Protection of Animals Act, 1911.
20.—(1) Leasaítear leis seo alt 1 den Protection of Animals Act, 1911 (arna leasú le halt 4 den Acht um Chosaint Ainmhithe (Leasú), 1965) trí na focail go léir i bhfo-alt (1) ó “such person shall be guilty” go dtí deireadh an fho-ailt a scriosadh agus na focail seo a leanas a chur ina n-ionad:
“such person shall be guilty of an offence of cruelty within the meaning of this Act and shall be liable on summary conviction thereof—
(i) in respect of a first or a second offence to a fine not exceeding £500, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, or, at the discretion of the Court, to both such fine and such imprisonment;
(ii) in respect of a third or any subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding £500, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or, at the discretion of the Court, to both such fine and such imprisonment.”.
(2) Féadfaidh an tAire Talmhaíochta le rialacháin méid uasta na fíneála a shonraítear in alt 1 (arna leasú leis an Acht seo) den Protection of Animals Act, 1911, a athrú.
(3) Más rud é go mbeartaítear rialacháin a dhéanamh faoi fho-alt (2) den alt seo, leagfar dréacht de na rialacháin faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas agus ní dhéanfar na rialacháin go dtí go mbeidh rún ag ceadú an dréachta rite ag gach Teach acu sin.
Dliteanas úinéara mar gheall ar dhamáiste ag madra.
21.—(1) Beidh úinéir madra faoi dhliteanas damáistí mar gheall ar dhamáiste a dhéanann an madra le linn ionsaí ar aon duine agus mar gheall ar dhíobháil a dhéanann sé d'aon bheostoc; agus ní gá don duine a lorgaíonn na damáistí sin a thaispeáint go raibh claonadh mioscaiseach roimhe sin sa mhadra ná go raibh a fhios ag an úinéir an claonadh sin a bheith ann ná a thaispeáint go raibh an díobháil nó an damáiste sin inchurtha i leith faillí ar pháirt an úinéara.
(2) Má dhéanann madra díobháil do bheostoc ar thalamh a ndeachaigh siad ar seachrán isteach ann agus gur le háititheoir na talún an madra nó gur údaraigh an t-áititheoir é a bheith ar an talamh, ní bheidh duine faoi dhliteanas faoin alt seo maidir le díobháil a rinneadh don bheostoc, murar chuir an duine faoi deara don mhadra an beostoc a ionsaí.
(3) Is de réir na rialacha dlí a bhaineann le dliteanas mar gheall ar fhaillí, agus dá réir sin amháin, a bheidh duine faoi dhliteanas damáistí maidir le haon damáiste a dhéanann madra, a choimeádtar in aon áitreabh nó déanmhas, do dhuine a dhéanann foghail ar an áitreabh nó ar an déanmhas sin.
(4) (a) Aon damáiste nó díobháil a mbeidh dliteanas mar gheall orthu leagtha ar dhuine faoin alt seo measfar iad a bheith inchurtha i leith éagóra de réir bhrí an Achta um Dhliteanas Sibhialta, 1961, agus beidh feidhm ag forálacha an Achta sin dá réir sin.
(b) Beidh feidhm ag ailt 11 (2) (a) agus 11 (2) (b) de Reacht na dTréimhsí, 1957, maidir leis an damáiste sin.
Madraí contúirteacha.
22.—(1) Más rud é—
(a) ar ghearán a bheith déanta chuig an gCúirt Dúiche ag aon duine leasmhar go bhfuil madra contúirteach agus nach bhfuil sé á choimeád faoi rialú cuí, nó
(b) ar aon duine a chiontú i leith ciona faoi alt 9 (2) den Acht seo,
gur dóigh leis an gCúirt go bhfuil an madra contúirteach agus nach bhfuil sé á choimeád faoi rialú cuí, féadfaidh an Chúirt, i dteannta aon phionóis eile a fhéadfaidh sí a fhorchur, a ordú an madra a choimeád faoi rialú cuí nó é a dhíothú.
(2) Aon uair a ordóidh an Chúirt madra a dhíothú de bhun fho-alt (1) den alt seo, féadfaidh an Chúirt—
(a) ordú a thabhairt an madra a sheachadadh ar mhaor madraí nó ar aon duine oiriúnach lena dhíothú, agus
(b) ordú a thabhairt go n-íocfaidh úinéir an mhadra na costais chun an madra a dhíothú.
(3) Aon uair a sheachadfar madra ar mhaor madraí nó ar aon duine eile de bhun ordú de chuid na Cúirte lena dhíothú, déanfaidh an duine ar a seachadfar an madra, an madra a dhíothú, nó a chur faoi deara é a dhíothú, ar shlí dhaonnachtúil, a luaithe is féidir.
(4) Féadfaidh údarás áitiúil aon suimeanna is iníoctha ag úinéir madra de bhun ordú de chuid na Cúirte faoi fho-alt (2) (b) den alt seo a ghnóthú mar fhiach conartha shimplí in aon chúirt dlínse inniúla.
(5) Más rud é go gcruthófar go ndearna madra damáiste in ionsaí ar aon duine, nó go ndearna sé díobháil do bheostoc, féadfar déileáil leis faoin alt seo mar mhadra contúirteach nach bhfuil á choimeád faoi rialú cuí.
Cosaint i gcaingean le haghaidh damáistí mar gheall ar mhadra a lámhach.
23.—(1) Beidh sé ina chosaint in aon chaingean le haghaidh damáistí in aghaidh duine mar gheall ar mhadra a lámhach nó in aon chúiseamh a thig as madra a lámhach má chruthaíonn an cosantóir—
(a) go ndearnadh an madra a lámhach agus é ag ciapadh beostoic nó ar tí beostoc a chiapadh agus nach raibh aon slí réasúnach eile ann chun deireadh a chur leis an gciapadh ná chun é a chosc; nó
(b) (i) gur mhadra fáin an madra a bhí i gcomharsanacht áite ina ndearnadh díobháil do bheostoc nó inar maraíodh iad, agus
(ii) gur chreid an cosantóir go réasúnach go raibh an madra bainteach leis an díobháil nó leis an marú, agus
(iii) nach raibh aon slí indéanta ann chun an madra a urghabháil nó chun a fháil amach cér leis é; agus
(c) gurbh eisean an duine a bhí i bhfeighil an bheostoic; agus
(d) gur chuir sé in iúl, laistigh d'ocht n-uaire an chloig is daichead, don chomhalta i gceannas ag an stáisiún Garda is gaire don áit mar ar lámhachadh an madra, gur tharla an lámhach.
(2) Measfar forálacha fho-alt (1) (a) agus fho-alt (1) (b) (i) agus (iii) den alt seo a bheith comhlíonta má cheap an cosantóir gur comhlíonadh na forálacha sin agus go raibh forais réasúnacha aige leis an tuairim sin a bheith aige.
Conablaigh a chur.
24.—(1) Faoi réir fho-alt (2) den alt seo, ní cheadóidh duine gan leithscéal réasúnach conablach aon bheostoic a fhágáil gan chur in aon ghort ná in aon áit eile a bhféadfadh madra teacht air.
(2) Ní bheidh feidhm ag fo-alt (1) den alt seo maidir le haon chonablach nó cuid de chonablach ar ar cuireadh nimh in aon chás ina ndearnadh forálacha alt 8 den Protection of Animals Act, 1911 (arna leathnú le halt 14 den Acht um Chosaint Ainmhithe (Leasú), 1965, agus arna shrianadh le halt 34 den Acht um Fhiadhúlra, 1976), a chomhlíonadh.
Núis ag madraí ag tafann.
25.—(1) Más rud é, ar ghearán a bheith déanta chuig an gCúirt Dúiche ag aon duine, gur dóigh núis a bheith déanta mar gheall ar thafann iomarcach madra, féadfaidh an Chúirt—
(a) a ordú d'áititheoir an áitribh ina gcoimeádtar an madra an núis a laghdú trí rialú cuí a dhéanamh ar an madra;
(b) ordú a dhéanamh ag teorannú, ar feadh cibé tréimhse a bheidh sonraithe san ordú, an líon madraí a choimeádfaidh an freagróir ina áitreabh;
(c) ordú a thabhairt an madra a sheachadadh ar mhaor madraí go ndéileálfaidh sé leis de réir fhorálacha an Achta seo amhail is dá mba mhadra nach dteastaíonn an madra.
(2) Sula ndéanfaidh aon duine gearán chuig an gCúirt Dúiche i ndáil le núis a tharla mar gheall ar thafann iomarcach madra, déanfaidh sé fógra san fhoirm fhorordaithe a sheirbheáil, laistigh de cibé tráth a shonrófar san fhógra, ar áititheoir an áitribh ina gcoimeádtar an madra go bhfuil sé ar intinn aige gearán den sórt sin a dhéanamh.
Barántais chuardaigh.
26.—(1) Más deimhin le Breitheamh den Chúirt Dúiche nó le Feidhmeannach Síochána de thoradh faisnéise faoi mhionn ó chomhalta den Gharda Síochána go raibh forais réasúnacha ann lena chreidiúint—
(a) gur ionsaigh madra duine nó gur chiap sé beostoc, agus
(b) de dhroim an ionsaithe nó an chiaptha, go ndearna úinéir an mhadra cion faoin Acht seo, agus
(c) go bhfuil madra ina sheilbh ag duine in aon áitreabh agus go bhfuil forais réasúnacha ag an gcomhalta den Gharda Síochána lena chreidiúint gurb é an madra é a rinne an t-ionsaí nó an ciapadh sin,
féadfaidh an Breitheamh Dúiche nó, de réir mar a bheidh, an Feidhmeannach Síochána barántas cuardaigh a eisiúint faoin alt seo.
(2) Beidh sé sainráite i mbarántas cuardaigh faoin alt seo go n-údaraíonn sé, agus oibreoidh sé chun údarás a thabhairt, don chomhalta den Gharda Síochána a bheidh ainmnithe sa bharántas cuardaigh, mar aon le cibé comhaltaí eile den Gharda Síochána is gá, dul isteach san áitreabh a shonraítear sa bharántas cuardaigh agus an madra a chuardach ann.
(3) Féadfaidh comhalta den Gharda Síochána a bheidh údaraithe le barántas cuardaigh faoin alt seo chun dul isteach in áitreabh cibé forneart a úsáid is gá de réir réasúin chun dul isteach san áitreabh.
(4) Féadfaidh an Garda Síochána aon mhadra a gheofar le linn cuardaigh de bhun barántais cuardaigh faoin alt seo a aistriú ón áitreabh agus a choinneáil lena scrúdú.
Cionta agus pionóis.
27.—(1) Aon duine a choimeádfaidh madra gan cheadúnas contrártha d'alt 2 den Acht seo beidh sé ciontach i gcion agus ar é a chiontú go hachomair dlífear fíneáil nach mó ná £100 a chur air i ndáil le gach madra den sórt sin a bheidh á choimeád ag an duine sin.
(2) Aon duine—
(a) a ghlacfaidh seilbh ar mhadra nó a aistreoidh seilbh ar mhadra sula n-eiseofar ceadúnas i leith an mhadra contrártha d'alt 2 den Acht seo, nó
(b) a mhainneoidh forálacha alt 13 (1) nó 13 (2) den Acht seo a chomhlíonadh, nó
(c) a mhainneoidh ceadúnas a thabhairt ar aird nuair a iarrfaidh maor madraí sin air faoi alt 16 den Acht seo, nó
(d) a sháróidh aon fhodhlí a dhéanfaidh údarás áitiúil faoi alt 17 den Acht seo, nó
(e) a sháróidh aon rialachán a bhaineann le haon ábhar a shonraítear in alt 19 (2) (d), (e), (f) nó (g) den Acht seo,
beidh sé ciontach i gcion agus ar é a chiontú go hachomair dlífear fíneáil nach mó ná £100 a chur air.
(3) Aon duine—
(a) a sháróidh aon rialachán arna dhéanamh de bhun alt 19 (2) (a), (b) nó (c) den Acht seo, nó
(b) a cheadaíonn conablach aon bheostoic a fhágáil gan chur de shárú ar alt 24 den Acht seo,
beidh sé ciontach i gcion agus ar é a chiontú go hachomair dlífear fíneáil nach mó ná £500 a chur air.
(4) Aon duine—
(a) a mhainneoidh forálacha alt 9 (1) den Acht seo a chomhlíonadh, nó
(b) a mhainneoidh forálacha alt 10 (1) den Acht seo a chomhlíonadh, nó
(c) a mbeidh níos mó ná ceithre chú sa turas ar éill aige nó a chuirfidh faoi deara nó a cheadóidh d'aon duine amháin níos mó ná ceithre chú sa turas a bheith ar éill aige in áit phoiblí contrártha d'alt 10 (2) den Acht seo, nó
(d) a choimeádfaidh madra fad a bheidh sé dícháilithe chun ceadúnas a shealbhú faoi alt 18 den Acht seo,
beidh sé ciontach i gcion agus dlífear, ar é a chiontú go hachomair, fíneáil nach mó ná £500 nó príosúnacht ar feadh téarma nach faide ná mí amháin, nó, de rogha na cúirte, an fhíneáil agus an phríosúnacht sin le chéile, a chur air.
(5) Féadfaidh an tAire, le rialacháin, an méid uasta fíneála a shonraítear i bhfo-alt (1), (2), (3) nó (4) den alt seo nó in alt 9 nó in alt 16 den Acht seo a athrú.
(6) Más rud é go mbeartaítear rialacháin a dhéanamh faoi fho-alt (5) den alt seo déanfar dréacht de na rialacháin a leagan faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas agus ní dhéanfar na rialacháin go dtí go mbeidh rún ag ceadú an dréachta rite ag gach Teach díobh sin.
Forálacha maidir le cionta áirithe.
28.—(1) Más rud é go mbeidh forais réasúnacha ag maor madraí chun a chreidiúint go bhfuil cion á dhéanamh ag duine nó go ndearna sé cion faoi alt 27 (1), 27 (2) (a), 27 (4) (a), 27 (4) (b) nó 27 (4) (c) den Acht seo, féadfaidh sé fógra a sheirbheáil ar an duine san fhoirm fhorordaithe á dhearbhú go líomhnaítear go ndearna an duine cion agus ag sonrú an chiona agus go bhféadfaidh an duine le linn na tréimhse 21 lá dar tosach dáta an fhógra, an méid forordaithe a íoc, agus an fógra ina theannta, leis an údarás áitiúil a shonrófar san fhógra agus nach dtionscnófar ionchúiseamh maidir leis an gcion líomhnaithe le linn na tréimhse a shonrófar san fhógra agus má dhéantar an íocaíocht a shonrófar san fhógra le linn na tréimhse sin nach dtionscnófar aon ionchúiseamh maidir leis an gcion líomhnaithe.
(2) Más rud é go dtugtar fógra faoi fho-alt (1) den alt seo—
(a) féadfaidh duine lena mbaineann an fógra, le linn na tréimhse a shonrófar san fhógra, an íocaíocht a bheidh sonraithe san fhógra, agus an fógra ina teannta, a dhéanamh leis an údarás áitiúil a bheidh sonraithe amhlaidh;
(b) féadfaidh an t-údarás áitiúil a bheidh sonraithe san fhógra an íocaíocht a ghlacadh, admháil a eisiúint ina leith agus an t-airgead a íocadh amhlaidh a choinneáil lena dhiúscairt de réir an Achta seo, agus ní beidh aon íocaíocht a ghlacfar amhlaidh inghnóthaithe in aon imthosca ag an duine a rinne í;
(c) ní dhéanfar ionchúiseamh i leith an chiona líomhnaithe a thionscnamh sa tréimhse a shonraítear san fhógra, agus má dhéantar an íocaíocht a shonrófar amhlaidh le linn na tréimhse sin, ní thionscnófar aon ionchúiseamh i leith an chiona líomhnaithe.
(3) In ionchúiseamh i leith ciona faoi alt 27 (1), 27 (2) (a), 27 (4) (a), 27 (4) (b) nó 27 (4) (c) den Acht seo, is ar an gcosantóir féin a bheidh sé a chruthú go ndearnadh íocaíocht de bhun fógra faoin alt seo.
Leasú ar an Acht um Chosaint Ainmhithe (Leasú), 1965.
29.—Leasaítear leis seo alt 27 den Acht um Chosaint Ainmhithe (Leasú), 1965, tríd an bhfo-alt seo a leanas a chur in ionad fho-alt (1):
“(1) Aon duine a ndéanfar ordú ina leith faoi alt 26 (2) den Acht seo nó faoi alt 18 (1) den Acht um Rialú Madraí, 1986, féadfaidh sé, aon uair tar éis trí mhí a bheith caite ó dháta an ordaithe agus ó am go ham, iarratas a dhéanamh chun na Cúirte a rinne an t-ordú á iarraidh an dícháiliú a forchuireadh leis an ordú a chur ar ceal, agus ar aon iarratas den sórt sin féadfaidh an Chúirt, más cuí léi é, ag féachaint do charachtar an duine a dícháilíodh, dá iompar tar éis an t-ordú a dhéanamh, don chineál ciona a bhí ann agus d'imthosca eile an cháis, an dícháiliú a chur ar ceal, le hordú, amhail ó cibé dáta a shonrófar san ordú.”.
Ionchúiseamh i gcionta.
30.—(1) Féadfaidh an t-údarás áitiúil ar ina limistéar a rinneadh cion faoin Acht seo an cion sin a ionchúiseamh.
(2) In ionchúiseamh faoin Acht seo i ndáil le madra neamhcheadúnaithe a choimeád, glacfar leis, go dtí go suífidh an cosantóir a mhalairt, go raibh, an tráth a ndearnadh an cion líomhnaithe, ceadúnas riachtanach i leith an mhadra agus nach raibh ceadúnas le haghaidh an mhadra sin ag an gcosantóir an tráth sin.
Rialacháin.
31.—(1) Féadfaidh an tAire rialacháin a dhéanamh chun aon ní a fhorordú dá dtagraítear san Acht seo mar ní atá forordaithe nó le forordú nó i ndáil le haon ábhar dá dtagraítear san Acht seo mar ábhar rialachán (seachas rialachán faoi alt 20 den Acht seo).
(2) Déanfar gach rialachán a dhéanfaidh an tAire faoin Acht seo, seachas rialachán faoi alt 27 den Acht seo, a leagan faoi bhráid gach Tí den Oireachtas a luaithe is féidir tar éis a dhéanta, agus má dhéanann ceachtar Teach acu sin, laistigh den lá is fiche a shuífidh an Teach sin tar éis an rialachán a leagan faoina bhráid, rún a rith ag neamhniú an rialacháin beidh an rialachán ar neamhní dá réir sin ach sin gan dochar do bhailíocht aon ní a rinneadh roimhe sin faoin rialachán.
(3) Féadfaidh cibé forálacha foghabhálacha, forlíontacha agus iarmhartacha is dóigh leis an Aire a bheith riachtanach, a bheith i ngach rialachán a dhéanfaidh an tAire faoin Acht seo.
Fógraí a sheirbheáil.
32.—I gcás go gceanglóidh nó go n-údaróidh an tAcht seo fógra a thabhairt do dhuine beidh an fógra dírithe chuig an duine sin agus tabharfar dó é ar shlí amháin de na slite seo a leanas:
(a) trína sheachadadh air,
(b) trína fhágáil ag an seoladh ag a bhfuil gnáthchónaí air,
(c) trína chur leis an bpost i litir chláraithe réamhíoctha a bheidh dírithe chuige ag an seoladh ag a bhfuil gnáthchónaí air.
Deontais d'údaráis áitiúla agus do chomhlachtaí eile.
33.—Féadfaidh an tAire, le toiliú an Aire Airgeadais, deontais a thabhairt i leith caiteachais údaráis áitiúil a thabhófar faoin Acht seo nó d'aon duine ar cúram leis tearmainn nó dídeana a chur ar fáil le haghaidh madraí fáin nó madraí nach dteastaíonn nó ar cúram leis leas madraí.
Caiteachais Aire.
34.—Déanfar na caiteachais a thabhóidh an tAire ag riaradh an Achta seo a íoc, a mhéid a cheadóidh an tAire Airgeadais, as airgead a sholáthróidh an tOireachtas.
An tAcht a leathnú chuig ainmhithe eile.
35.—Féadfaidh an tAire, le rialacháin, speicis eile ainmhithe ar ainmhithe ceansaithe go coitianta iad, a thabhairt faoi réim fhorálacha alt 12 den Acht seo, fhorálacha ailt 15 (2) agus 15 (4) den Acht seo agus fhorálacha alt 33 den Acht seo.
Aisghairm.
36.—Aisghairtear leis seo gach achtachán de na hachtacháin a shonraítear sa Sceideal a ghabhann leis an Acht seo a mhéid a shonraítear sa tríú colún den Sceideal sin.
Gearrtheideal agus tosach feidhme.
37.—(1) Féadfar an tAcht um Rialú Madraí, 1986, a ghairm den Acht seo.
(2) Tiocfaidh an tAcht seo nó aon fhoráil shonraithe den Acht seo i ngníomh cibé lá nó laethanta a cheapfaidh an tAire le hordú.
AN SCEIDEAL
Achtacháin a Aisghairtear
Seisiún agus Caibidil nó Uimhir agus Bliain | Gearrtheideal | Méid na hAisghairme |
2 & 3 Vict. c. 78 | Dublin Police Act, 1839 | Alt 15. |
5 & 6 Vict. c. 24 | Dublin Police Act, 1842 | In alt 14 (2), na focail “or suffer to be at large any unmuzzled ferocious Dog, or set on or urge any Dog or other Animal to attack, worry, or put in Fear any Person, Horse, or other Animal”. |
10 & 11 Vict. c. 89 | Town Police Clauses Act, 1847 | In alt 28, na focail “Every Person who suffers to be at large any unmuzzled ferocious Dog, or sets on or urges any Dog or other Animal to attack, worry or put in fear any Person or Animal: |
Every Owner of any Dog who suffers such Dog to go at large, knowing or having reasonable Ground for believing it to be in a rabid State, or to have been bitten by any Dog or other Animal in a rabid State: | ||
Every Person, who after public Notice given by any Justice directing Dogs to be confined on account of Suspicion of canine Madness, suffers any Dog to be at large during the Time specified in such Notice:” | ||
14 & 15 Vict. c. 92 | Summary Jurisdiction (Ireland) Act, 1851 | In alt 10 (1) na focail “or set on or urge any dog or other animal to attack or worry any person, horse, or other animal,”; |
alt 10 (7). | ||
17 & 18 Vict. c. 103 | Towns Improvement (Ireland) Act, 1854 | In alt 72, na focail “Every Person who suffers to be at large any unmuzzled ferocious Dog or sets on or urges any Dog or other Animal to attack, worry, or put in fear any Person or Animal, shall be liable to a Fine not exceeding Ten Shillings: |
Every Owner of any Dog who suffers such Dog to go at large, knowing or having reasonable Ground for believing it to be in a rabid State, or to have been bitten by any Dog or other Animal in a rabid State, shall be liable to a Fine not exceeding Ten Shillings: | ||
Every Person who, after public Notice given by any Justice or Justices at Petty Sessions, Chief Magistrate, or Chairman of Commissioners, directing Dogs to be confined on account of Suspicion of canine Madness, suffers any Dog to be at large during the Time specified in such Notice, shall be liable to a Fine not exceeding Ten Shillings:”. | ||
1871, c. 56 | Dogs Act, 1871 | An tAcht iomlán. |
1906, c. 32 | Dogs Act, 1906 | An tAcht iomlán. |
Ailt 37 go 39. | ||
Alt 41. | ||
An tAcht iomlán. | ||
Alt 33. | ||
Cuid III. | ||
Alt 56. | ||
An tAcht Rialtais Áitiúil (Pleanáil agus Forbairt), 1976 | Míreanna (d) agus (k) d'alt 43 (1). | |
Alt 65. | ||
Alt 3. | ||