To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs what discussions he has had with all local councils with regard to addressing illegal dog breeding.

My Department regularly engages with local councils to discuss and cultivate further actions and ways of working in order to address illegal dog breeding. A key forum for this engagement occurs under the ‘Paws For Thought’ campaign.

This initiative, which is chaired by my Department, co-ordinates the activities of a number of stakeholders, including local councils, to disrupt the abhorrent activity of illegal breeding and trafficking low welfare pups.

Activities include information sharing through a protocol that is in place between my Department and councils, to facilitate co-ordinated action where necessary. In addition, we jointly promote messages and communications, alongside the other statutory bodies, appealing to the public to only secure new pups from reputable and licenced breeders

My Department will continue to use this platform to identify and agree with local councils and other partners the most effective way forward to combat the illegal dog breeding trade and low welfare movement of pups.

Furthermore, following allegations made in a BBC Spotlight programme last year, in which it was highlighted that illegal breeding was prevalent outside of Northern Ireland, with the ports here being used as a conduit, my Department, alongside key statutory bodies including local councils, facilitated enhanced enforcement throughout December at both Belfast and Larne ports.