New laws regarding the breed have been put in place over the UK recently.
Rural and Community Development Minister Heather Humphries has said that she is “very open” to following to the UK government’s decision to ban ownership of the XL Bully breed of dog.
The Minister told the cabinet on Tuesday morning that a new stakeholder group on Dog Control will be tasked with bringing recommendations to her around strengthening dog control legislation.
According to the Irish Mirror, the Group will be headed up by former Garda Assistant Commissioner John Twomey and made up of representatives from the likes of the Irish Farmers Association, Dogs Trust, Comhairle na Tuaithe and the ISPCA.
The announcement comes on the same day that Stormont announced restrictions on ownership of the controversial breed in Northern Ireland.
Stormont Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Andrew Muir announced legislation requiring XL Bully owners to register their dogs and obtain an exemption certification.
The new laws also require owners to keep the breed on a lead and muzzled while in public. A ban on breeding, selling, abandoning or giving away XL bully dogs will also be put in place in the North.
XL Bully ban possible in Ireland as Stormont announces dog breed restrictions
Similar laws have been put in place in England, Wales and Scotland following a spate of vicious attacks by XL Bullies across the UK, which has, in some cases, led to deaths.
In Ireland, Minister Humphreys announced a series of measures in response to high-profile dog attacks, which included trebling on-the-spot fines for the most serious offences from €100 to €300.
The current list of dangerous dogs in Ireland in includes American pit bull terriers, rottweilers, Staffordshire bull terriers and Doberman pinschers.
The list does not currently include XL Bullies, however with the set up of the new task force, it is expected they will be added along with other breeds.
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