To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs for an update on any plans to address concerns around dog breeding establishments.

I am undertaking a series of animal welfare meetings with key stakeholders to listen to their views on this matter. I most recently met with the Northern Ireland Companion Animal Welfare Group in December with further meetings planned with local councils and the PSNI this week.

The outcome of this engagement will be an Animal Welfare Pathway which will detail my key commitments and objectives in the area of animal welfare until the end of the mandate.

I have already expressed my desire, within this pathway of actions, to create an expert group to review current dog breeding regulations. It would be my intention that this group will examine the need for reform and bring forward recommendations for my consideration. If legislative deficiencies are identified in the course of this review, I am, of course, determined that appropriate resolutions are advanced.