F18[19.—(1) The Minister may, by regulations, specify standards for premises at which a guard dog is, or more than 5 dogs aged over 4 months are, kept, and make provision for the use and control of dogs.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1) of this section, regulations under this section may—

(a) prohibit the keeping of a guard dog or more than 5 dogs aged over 4 months at any premises unless the premises are registered under regulations under paragraph (b) of this subsection;

F19[(aa) provide for the establishment and maintenance of a database containing information relating to all dogs in the State,

(ab) make provision in relation to such database, including provision in relation to the information or classes of information that shall be recorded in such database, the publication of such information and the persons to whom such information may be provided; ]

(b) make provision, in relation to premises at which a guard dog is, or more than 5 dogs aged over 4 months are, kept for—

(i) the registration of the premises by the local authority in whose functional area the premises are situated and for the form of the register to be established and maintained by the local authority for that purpose;

(ii) the requirements to be complied with to enable any such premises to be registered;

(iii) the circumstances in which registration of any such premises may be refused or cancelled;

(iv) the construction and operation of kennels in any such premises;

(v) the keeping of records by the owner or occupier of such premises and the inspection of such records;

(c) make provision for the regulation of the use of guard dogs at or in the immediate vicinity of premises used wholly or mainly for the purposes of any business, profession or occupation;

(d) make provision for the muzzling of dogs or of specified classes of dogs either generally or in specified circumstances;

(e) make provision for the control of dogs or of specified classes of dogs, including different provision for different classes of dogs;

(f) make provision for the prohibition of the presence of specified classes of dogs in public places or specified public places;

(g) make provision for the prohibition of the ownership, keeping, purchase, disposal (whether by sale or otherwise), abandonment, allowing to stray, breeding or importation of specified classes of dogs, being dogs that, in the opinion of the Minister, have such characteristics as to cause them to be a danger to the public;

(h) require the destruction or sterilisation in a humane manner of dogs to which regulations under paragraph (g) of this subsection relate and which are in the State;

(i) make provision for the effecting by owners of dogs or of specified classes of dogs of contracts of insurance against injury or damage caused by the dogs to persons or property;

(j) make provision for the identification of dogs or of specified classes of dogs and of their ownership by the wearing by the dogs concerned of collars or harnesses having the name and address of their owners inscribed thereon or on a plate, badge or disc attached thereto;

(k) make provision for other means of identification of dogs or of specified classes of dogs and of their ownership;

(l) require that a dog shall carry a means of licence identification whether by means of a disc, badge or plate attached to its collar or harness or by other means;

(m) make provision for the exemption from all or any of the provisions of the regulations of an inspector (within the meaning of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1966) or other officer of the Minister for Agriculture and Food, or an officer of a local authority in relation to the possession of a dog for the purposes of that Act and of a dog when in such possession;

(n) make provision for the exemption from all or any of the provisions of the regulations of specified classes of persons in relation to the possession or use of dogs or of specified classes of dogs either generally or in specified circumstances and of dogs or of specified classes of dogs when in such possession or being so used;

(o) provide for the classification of persons or dogs for the purpose of the regulations in such manner and by reference to such matters as may be specified in the regulations.]