My Department's code of practice for the welfare of dogs recommends that only positive, reward-based training be used and that potentially painful or frightening training methods, such as e-collars, be avoided. In that context, I am aware of the merits of banning such devices and am keen to explore how that can be achieved in this mandate, subject to available resources. I intend to discuss that and other animal welfare interventions with stakeholders in the time ahead.

I am aware that the Irish Government will introduce a regulation in the coming months to ban the use of manually operated shock-collar devices but not anti-bark collars or collars linked to boundary fences. Shock collars have been banned in Wales since 2010, and a recent report from the Scottish Animal Welfare Commission (SAWC) recommended a ban in Scotland. Prior to the dissolution of Parliament, DEFRA introduced legislation to ban shock collars in England.

It should be noted, however, that, although the use of shock collars or e-collars is not banned in Northern Ireland, a person may use an e-collar on an animal only if it does not cause unnecessary suffering. For example, if people set the intensity of the device at a level that is deemed to be excessive, they could be causing that animal unnecessary suffering and be liable for prosecution under the Welfare of Animals Act (Northern Ireland) 2011.