I have enacted legislation to restrict and control the ownership of XL bully dogs, and I am pleased that my ministerial colleague in the Republic of Ireland has moved to align legislation across the island. I understand that the rules there will broadly mirror the legal requirements that are already in place here and in the rest of the UK. For example, breeding, selling and rehoming XL bully dogs will be prohibited in the Republic of Ireland from 1 October 2024, matching the legal restrictions that I introduced here on 5 July.

It will be illegal to own an XL bully dog in the Republic of Ireland without a certificate of exemption from 1 February 2025, which is one month after it will become illegal here. In the Republic of Ireland, the certificates will be issued only to owners who can prove that their dog has a licence and is microchipped and neutered. That is broadly in line with the conditions for exemption that I introduced in Northern Ireland.