Consultation
9.Executive Ministers agreed on 5 November 2009 to consultation on policy proposals. Consultation opened on 23 November 2009 and closed on 1 February 2010. In order to explain the proposals and to encourage groups and individuals to respond, four consultation workshops took place in Derry, Armagh, Enniskillen and Belfast in January 2010. In addition, during the consultation period, officials met the Dogs Advisory Group, a body made up of district council staff involved in dog control matters and a forum for district councils to discuss issues affecting enforcement of the Dogs Order and related legislation. Officials also hosted separate meetings with Dogs Trust and the Kennel Club, primarily to discuss the practicalities of the microchipping of dogs.
10.One hundred and twenty nine responses to the consultation were received by the Department. The Act implements the policy proposals with respect to the level of the licence fee, conditions on licences, compulsory microchipping, levels of fines and penalties and collection of fixed penalties by district councils on which the Department consulted.