The Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney has hit out at those involved in the illegal puppy trade, and has called for it to stop.
It comes as the Dublin Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (DSPCA) estimates that as many as 30,000 puppies are shipped to the UK each year from Ireland.
Many of them go unregistered and are quickly sold on by second parties for a much higher price.
A recently-concluded five year investigation by the RSPCA in Britain - called Operation Pagan - broke up a gang who had been importing dozens of dogs from Irish puppy farms each month.
Three people have been jailed and banned from keeping animals for life after the major investigation into the puppy trade.
The trio are thought to have earned up to stg£35,000 (€48,476) a week by importing and selling sick and dying puppies.
District Judge James Prowse said all three treated living creatures as nothing more than a commodity, and they did anything in their power to try to maximise their profit.
Details of the five year investigation by the RSPCA, Greater Manchester Police and the North East Regional Asset Recovery Team (RART) were be revealed after the case concluded at Manchester Magistrates' Court earlier this month.
The investigation revealed the defendants received weekly puppy deliveries imported via ferry from Ireland and kept puppies at a 'holding' address in Stockport, before selling them at several rented residential properties.
The three used a variety of different names, claimed the puppies for sale were bred in a family environment and were the first litter.
They set up their own company through which they provided buyers with 'Kennel Registration' folders containing false paperwork, and used more than 30 mobile phones, each used for selling specific puppy breeds.
The RSPCA says the three people also dumped the bodies of dead puppies in wheelie bins and a car.
Ian Briggs is chief inspector in the RSPCA special operations unit. He told Newstalk Breakfast smaller dogs are the most popular.
Meanwhile officials from the Department of Agriculture seized a consignment of dogs and pups who were in the process of being illegally exported to the UK earlier this week.
The animals involved were being transported in an unapproved vehicle and had no accompanying paper work.
Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney said: "The seizure of this consignment should send a clear message to the minority involved in this type of illegal trade that this activity will not be tolerated and that controls are being stepped up with a view to stamping out the illegal trade in dogs and pups".
He added that European Union rules regulating movement of dogs and pups must be adhered to in all circumstances.
He noted that all dogs exiting the country must be accompanied by a pet passport to show that they are identified by a microchip and are immunised against rabies.
"I would like to thank my Department officials involved in the seizure and the Wexford SPCA for their assistance in taking care of the seized animals. This cooperation was critical in ensuring the safety and welfare of the dogs and pups", he added.
