The Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys has signed regulations that will ban XL Bully dogs in Ireland.

She said that she was bringing in the ban in the interest of public safety, after what she described as a number of “horrific attacks” by XL Bully dogs, which included the death of a young woman in Limerick.

Under the Control of Dogs (XL Bully) Regulations 2024, the ban will be introduced in two stages, beginning on 1 October, with a full ownership ban coming into force on 1 February 2025.

The period between these two dates will allow current owners of XL Bully dogs time to apply for a free certificate of exemption from their local authority. This will allow them to keep their dog until the end of its natural life.

Shelters

Owners will be able to apply for a certificate of exemption from 1 October, subject to the dog being:

• Licensed,
• Microchipped, and
• Neutered.

Any owner found to be in breach of the regulations will have committed an offence under the Control of Dogs Act 1986.

Existing XL Bully dogs who are already in facilities run by animal-welfare charities or shelters on 1 October will be allowed to be rehomed or exported, subject to strict criteria, until 1 February 2025.

“While I know not everybody will agree with the ban, my ultimate priority is to protect public safety,” said the minister.