Andrew Muir has announced a 'recruitment competition'.

Northern Ireland's Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) is to recruit members to a dog breeding Expert Advisory Group.

DAERA minister Andrew Muir has announced a 'recruitment competition', which will see the appointment of a chair and two members to the advisory group.

Members of the Expert Advisory Group will be appointed for a six-month period. During this time, the group will investigate the regulation of dog breeding in Northern Ireland, including that of canine fertility clinics.

The role will see members engaging with key stakeholders to gather evidence.  They must then use the evidence in relation to existing dog breeding legislation.

They will then carry out a review and produce a report that will lay out recommendations going forward.

Candidates for the role will need to hold a professional veterinary or academic qualification. They must also have experience working with animal welfare committees or advisory groups.

Members do not hold public appointments and will have an advisory role only. They will not direct research expenditure or hold statutory responsibilities.

Minister Muir says that the Expert Advisory Group forms part of his Animal Welfare Pathway, ensuring dog breeding practices follow best practice and are enforced by legislation.

He said: “This is an important opportunity for interested parties to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of dog breeding here and make sure our legislation is effective, promoting the highest standards of animal welfare and can be benchmarked against the best international standards.”

More information about the competition, roles and eligibility criteria can be found on the DAERA website. The deadline for applications is 10am on 19 May 2025.

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