New legislation will allow dog and cat owners who already use electronic shock collars to continue using them as long as they register within three months, while owners not already using them will not be allowed to start.

As these registered dogs and cats die, this will gradually lead to the outright ban of these collars in Ireland.

The ban will apply only to the use of electronic shock collars operated by hand-held remote controls and not to anti-bark collars or collars linked to boundary fences or remote fencing to control other animals.

It will also include an exemption allowing for the use of these collars on deaf dogs.

Charlie McConalogue, the minister for agriculture, food and the marine, said: “Dogs and cats are much-loved companions for so many of us in Ireland, and the use of manually operated remotely-controlled electronic shock collars is not an appropriate way to treat them.

“Many organisations and individuals have highlighted the welfare problems these collars can cause. The Advisory Council on Companion Animal Welfare, which I set up in 2021, has also advised me on this matter and on that advice, I will be introducing a regulation in the coming months to ban their use.”