The Department of the Environment has confirmed that the question of microchipping such dogs . . . originally proposed as part of a revamp of the dog breeding industry in Ireland . . . will be examined in the context of the drafting of new regulations under the Control of Dogs Regulations, 1998.

But minister Dick Roche is unlikely to make any move to ban the breeding or sale of these vicious dogs outright, as was done in Britain in 1991 after a string of dog attacks raised public alarm.

Under the 1998 regulations, the 10 listed breeds of dogs must be securely muzzled while in a public place and kept on a short lead by a person over 16 years of age who is capable of controlling them. The dogs must always wear a collar with the name and address of the owner.

The 10 breeds listed are: American pit bull terrier; English bull terrier;

Staffordshire bull terrier; bull mastiff;

doberman pinscher; German shepherd (alsatian); Rhodesian ridgeback; rottweiler; Japanese akita; Japanese tosa and every dog commonly known as a Ban Dog.

In addition, under the 1986 Control of Dogs Act , a judge can order that any dog he or she considers dangerous be kept under control or be destroyed.

Speaking just before Christmas in the Dail, Dublin North Central TD Sean Haughey queried whether there was adequate legislation in place "to protect innocent pedestrians walking their pets from being savagely attacked by vicious dogs such as Kerry Blue and Pit Bull Terriers".

But minister Roche said that he felt the existing regulations provided "an adequate level of control" and that he had no plans to "introduce additional measures, " including the addition of new breeds to the list.

There are 65 dog wardens employed by the various local authorities to police the regulations, according to the Department of the Environment. In 2005, 12 prosecutions were initiated against owners for failing to muzzle their dogs in a public place and 86 for failing to have them on a short leash. Ninety-two prosecutions were served on dog owners who did not have a collar on their dog identifying the name and address of the owner.