The Minister for Rural and Community Development has said if the new stakeholder group on dog control recommends banning a certain breed, she would abide by its suggestion.
Heather Humphreys said she was very conscious of public concern over dog control and that while there are restricted breeds here, no breeds are banned.
Yesterday, she announced that former garda assistant commissioner John Twomey will head up the Group on Dog Control, which is tasked with bringing recommendations to the minister in terms of strengthening the legislation around the control of dogs.
Speaking on RTÉ's Today with Claire Byrne, Minister Humphreys said she wanted the group to look at the issue in the "whole", adding, "I'm going to ask them to look at different issues here - number one, we have a restricted breeds list, the XL bully is on that.
"That means you must control that dog ... it must be on a leash. It has to wear a muzzle, so there are different regulations around that."
She said the stakeholder group will examine if more dogs should be added to the restricted list and that she wanted it to look at legislation to increase the larger fines.
Earlier this year, Minister Humphreys announced a series of measures in response to dog attacks.
These included the trebling the on-the-spot fines for the most serious offences from €300 to €1000
The provision of €2 million for dog warden services to upgrade the facilities and transport;
Funding for a public awareness campaign, which will be launched shortly.
The minister is believed to be very open to the idea of following the UK in taking specific action in relation to certain dangerous breeds, including the XL Bully.
Separately, proposed restrictions and safeguards on owning XL bully dogs in Northern Ireland were announced.
Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister Andrew Muir said he was bringing forward legislation requiring people to register their ownership of the breed and obtain an exemption certification, and also to keep them on a lead and muzzled while in public.
There would also be a ban on breeding, selling, abandoning or giving away XL bully dogs in the region.
XL bullies would also have to be neutered under the planned law changes, Mr Muir said.
Additionally, owners would be required to obtain a form of public liability insurance and ensure the animals were kept in secure conditions.
People who chose not to keep their XL bullies would have the option of surrendering the animals to the authorities to be euthanised.
Similar moves to place restrictions on XL bullies have been introduced in England, Wales and Scotland in recent months following a spate of attacks linked to the breed.
Additional reporting PA
