A stronger, cross-departmental response is required in order to stamp out illegal dog breeding and to help reduce the number of unwanted dogs that are later cruelly disposed, according to Fianna Fail Seanad Group Leader, Senator Catherine Ardagh.

Leading animal welfare charity, Dogs’ Trust Ireland have temporarily paused their adoption services in an attempt to prevent people impulsively purchasing a dog this Christmas period. Their decision comes as it was revealed that the charity experienced a 30% rise in people looking to give up their dog in January 2018, in comparison to the year previous.

Senator Ardagh said, “Owning and raising a dog is no walk in the park and the decision to buy one should be strongly considered. Once the initial novelty wears thin, the toilet training and constant furniture chewing sets in puppies can become incontinent and hamper any lifestyle.

“The details of some disturbing cases of neglect and cruelty towards dogs as of late should be enough of a reminder to those considering getting a pup this Christmas, to avoid taking one on unless you have the right conditions and are in the best circumstances to accommodate it for many years to come.

“There are already 176 dogs being cared for in one charity’s North Dublin rehoming facility. This is just one kennel – there are countless more being operated by hardworking volunteers and Local Authorities across the country. These are likely to care for hundreds of unwanted dogs while sadly very many more must be euthanised each year.

“The ISPCA and other animal welfare organisations work tremendously hard all year round to ensure higher breeding standards in order to outlaw cruel practices but they need all our support to spread the word.

“The Dog Breeding Establishments Act which centred on regulating puppy farms was passed in 2010 but without tough enforcement, unscrupulous puppy farmers profit heavily at this time of the year.

“Puppy smuggling continues to be big business in our country, we’re regarded as the worst in Europe for illegal breeding and we do need to seriously examine banning the third party sale of dogs. The issues extend beyond the remit or responsibility of the Department of Agriculture and in fact should also be better regulated in terms of revenue and the Department of Justice.

Senator Ardagh concluded,”In order to stamp out such appalling practices to help reduce the number of unwanted dogs that are later disposed of we need to see a cross-departmental response.”

It has been confirmed today that An Bord Pleanala have upheld Dublin City Council’s decision to formally declare the former John Player Wills site on South Circular Road in Dublin 8 as a vacant site.

Speaking in the Seanad this afternoon Fianna Fáil Seanad Group Leader and Crumlin based Senator, Catherine Ardagh said, “This site, which is currently under the control of NAMA and recently valued in the region of €100million is of massive strategy importance to our area.

“The South Inner City remains affected by the ongoing housing crisis. DCC have sought to take Weaver Square and it’s allotments to use for development but as I have previously acknowledged, the needs of residents locally shouldn’t necessarily be sacrificed.

“The vacant lands around the former John Player factory could be a better alternative to seizing much used and much loved green space when it’s already in short supply. Focus should instead be on maximising the value of the vacant site to alleviate the crisis in housing by developing sustainable, affordable housing on it.

“Hopefully the 7% Vacant Land Levy that’s payable in the forthcoming year will prove to be enough of an incentive to avoid hoarding the land for any extended period. It would only be right that this levy is reinvested in the immediate locality to fund local regeneration.

She concluded, “The economic and social needs of the communities throughout the South Inner City need to be fulfilled and properly utilising this site would be a perfect opportunity to see that happen.”

 - DCC has granted notice that Weaver Square Gardens are set to close in a matter of weeks -

Fianna Fáil Seanad Group Leader, Senator Catherine Ardagh has said the residents of Dublin 8 have already suffered losses in community resources such as the Dublin Food Co-Op and the use of Newmarket Square and should not now be faced with losing Weaver Square.

The Crumlin based Senator was commenting following her attendance at last Saturday's arranged meet up at Weaver’s Square Allotment Site.

Senator Ardagh said, “The Liberties and the entire Dublin 8 area is densely populated but has the lowest proportion of green space in the whole of Dublin city. Local residents in Dublin 8 are justifiably very concerned about the future of one of the last remaining green space in our urban neighbourhood.

“Weaver Square Community Garden and the 27 allotments are of great benefit to very many families and people living locally. Community green spaces provide social, recreational and community based activity for people of all abilities.

“I am the first to advocate for urgently required sustainable housing in our area, just this week I raised that issue in the Seanad, but private property development cannot always be given the go ahead at the expense of the needs of existing residents.

“The Local Authority’s first ever Dublin City Parks Strategy 2017-2022 specifies it’s vision as ‘growing towards a greener and more liveable Dublin City.’ Worse again, it in fact acknowledges that the current provision of open space and overall greening in the Liberties ‘is poor.’ These statements are both clearly at odds with their planned action on Weaver’s Square.

“There was a severe shortage of green park space when this strategy was derived and it will be non-existent if this planned closure of Weaver Square Gardens goes ahead.

Senator Ardagh concluded, “I hope to see the whole community get behind this important campaign to have a say on the future environment of the area and that there will be excellent support at both upcoming events.”

Fianna Fáil’s Seanad Group Leader, Senator Catherine Ardagh has said that RTÉ’s latest production, Doing Money, is a timely reminder of the need to stamp out the trafficking of women for sex here in Ireland, but also across the world.

“The brutal stories of women who are kidnapped in other parts of the world, and sold into sex slavery here in Ireland is very hard to watch, but unfortunately, it happens on a daily basis,” said Senator Ardagh.

“The global nature of the international sex trade is visible in the wide range of nationalities of the thousands of women living in Ireland in this form of hell, with little hope of escape. Many have had no contact with their families since they left their home country and since moved around the world by their exploiters in an attempt to maximise profit.

“Frontline Irish NGO, Ruhama has been helping those affected by prostitution and trafficking to rebuild their lives through outreach services since 1989. In 2017, over 300 people affected by prostitution in Ireland sought support from those working with Ruhuma.

“Last year, the Oireachtas rightly passed the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 which finally criminalised the purchase of sexual services. This followed on from the 2008 Criminal Law (Human Trafficking) Act introduced by Fianna Fáil to criminalise the trafficking of people for the purposes of sexual exploitation.

“Despite these legislative developments, human trafficking is still as pervasive as ever. In fact, according to the United Nations earlier this year, human trafficking is the third largest crime worldwide. Therefore, it’s obvious that greater effort is needed from the Department of Justice, and An Garda Síochana, to stamp it out here in Ireland.

“I firmly believe that the full force of the law must come to bear on those caught trafficking people in Ireland, and on those that facilitate it by purchasing sexual services.

“There is no place for it in a modern Irish society, and I am calling on the Government to enhance resources and ensure no more women have to suffer at the hands of these depraved traffickers,” concluded Ardagh.

Fianna Fáil Seanad Group Leader, Senator Catherine Ardagh has said the Drimnagh Area Development Plan must be revisited for the true potential of the locality to be fully realised.

The Crumlin based Senator who is also a General Election Candidate in Dublin South Central raised the matter in the Seanad this week.

Senator Ardagh said, “It’s been a decade since Dublin City Council first highlighted the need for proper, more suitable amenities in Drimnagh and to deliver on fully servicing potential development sites in the area.

“At that time, the Local Authority spent €140,000 on drafting the Drimnagh Area Development Plan, which was then shelved.

“Drimnagh is an area that makes up a very central and lively part of our capital with a sizable population of roughly 12,000 people.

“There are a number of useful sites along the canal on Davitt Road and near Crumlin Shopping Centre that could be utilised to develop much needed housing development in the capital.

“With good planning and sustained investment, Drimnagh could become an even better part, more vibrant of our city.

“The development plan that has been left gather dust must be put back on the local and national agenda and I have emphasised this directly with the Minister in the Seanad.

She concluded, “The council need to revisit its plan for the true potential of Drimnagh to be realised.”