Credit: Dlexus, CC BY-SA 4.0

New regulations will prohibit the importing, breeding, selling and re-homing of XL Bullies from 1 October 2024 and it will become illegal to own an XL Bully without a certificate of exemption after 1 February 2025.

Rural and community development minister Heather Humphreys said the move was in the interest of public safety following a number of attacks by XL Bullies, including a fatal attack on Limerick woman Nicole Morey.

Mrs Humphreys said: “I am bringing in regulations to ban the breeding, sale, rehoming and import of XL Bully dogs from 1st October 2024.

“These new regulations will ensure that, from October, nobody in the State can take ownership of these dangerous dogs and that it will be illegal to breed, sell, import, rehome, exchange, gift or abandon XL Bully dogs.

“Secondly, I will be bringing in a system of certification for existing owners of XL Bully dogs. Over the period 1st October 2024 to 1st February 2025 all existing XL Bully owners will have to apply for a certificate of exemption.”

Certificates of exemption will be issued subject to strict criteria, including a requirement for licensing, microchipping and neutering. Other possible criteria will be discussed with the stakeholder group on dog control put in place to advise on these issues.

After 1 February 2025, any owner not compliant with the new regulations will have their dog seized and euthanised.

Mrs Humphreys continued: “My officials are working across government, including with local authorities, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, An Garda Síochána, and Revenue Commissioners, to ensure effective enforcement of these regulations.

“The timelines I have set out will ensure that existing owners have time to obtain certificates of exemption, and that the systems are in place to enforce the regulations once enacted.”

She added: “I know a lot of people will not agree with this decision. I’m a dog owner myself and I know people love their dogs. We must be mindful however that no dog’s life is worth more than human life. Ultimately that is what guided me in making this decision.

“The XL Bully was responsible for the horrific attack on Alejandro Mizsan in Wexford last year and it was also the breed which killed a young woman in Limerick recently.

“If we do not take action now the number of these dogs in the country will grow and my fear is that these attacks will become more frequent.

“It is my strong view that Ireland should not be out of step with neighbouring jurisdictions in Northern Ireland and the UK on this matter.”