dog attack
A woman has died after being attacked by a dog at a house in County Limerick.

The attack happened at about 23:40 on Tuesday in Ballyneety.

The woman, who was 23, was pronounced dead at the scene, gardaí (Irish police) said.

They said one dog had been destroyed and a number of others had been seized.

The woman's body was taken to University Hospital Limerick where a post-mortem examination will be carried out.

Irish broadcaster RTÉ said the dog, external that was destroyed was understood to have been an XL bully.

It said the other dogs were suspected to be from a restricted breed.

Irish Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys said she was "absolutely appalled" by the woman's death and sent sympathies to her family.

She said more action was required in relation to dog control and that she had set up a cross-governmental stakeholder group, chaired by the retired Deputy Garda Commissioner John Twomey, to examine the issue.

"I have asked the group to examine the restricted breeds list, in line with actions being taken in the UK and Northern Ireland," she said in a statement.

"I am committed to working with colleagues across government in taking whatever action is necessary to strengthen our dog control laws."

A list of restricted breeds in the Republic of Ireland can be found here.

No breed of dog is banned in the Republic of Ireland.