Seanad debates

Wednesday, 3 March 2010

Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed)

 

12:00 pm

Photo of John GormleyJohn Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

I thank Senator Coffey for his contribution. He indicated on Committee Stage last week that he will propose a revised amendment which would have the effect of excluding greyhound breeders from the registration charges provided for under this Bill. I do not propose to apply the same exemption from fees to the Irish Greyhound Board as I did to the Hunting Association of Ireland-affiliated members.

The Hunting Association of Ireland sought exemptions from the inspection regime and the licence fee requirements proposed in the Bill. The Hunting Association of Ireland assured me it already maintains the highest voluntary standards in its establishments. In recognition of the not-for-profit basis of these activities and in response to the representations on its behalf, I decided to provide exemption in the legislation in respect of the payment of registration fees only. Notwithstanding the fact the Hunting Association of Ireland has made it clear that its premises operate in accordance with the comprehensive and appropriate standards, I have not excluded Hunting Association of Ireland affiliated hunt clubs from the requirements of the proposed inspection regime, and I have made this clear in a number of my contributions in the Seanad.

Senator Coffey pointed out that the regulation of greyhounds is governed by the Greyhound Industry Act 1958. The Act, by virtue of its Title, is to provide for the improvement and development of the greyhound industry, greyhound racing and coursing and for the better control of greyhound race tracks and coursing grounds. The Bill before the House seeks to have the protection and welfare of all dogs in breeding establishments at its core. I do not understand the argument that this Bill will introduce a second regulatory regime for the greyhound industry in that it seeks exclusively to establish mandatory conditions for the breeding of all dogs, including greyhounds in dog breeding establishments. The Bill will supplement the provisions in the 1958 Act and ensure that regulation will improve the reputation of the Irish dog breeding industry, including greyhound breeding, which would benefit the industry in the long run. It is unclear how the Bill as proposed would prove excessively burdensome in terms of fees and welfare standards to greyhound breeders who should already operate to high voluntary standards. This is an important point.

I remind Senators that in its submission to the working group in 2005, the Irish Greyhound Board welcomed any regulation that would ensure the welfare of all dogs is protected and policed. This is what the Bill aims to achieve. I agree it is self-evidently in the interests of greyhound breeders that their greyhounds are well maintained. For that reason, I believe they should have little difficulty in complying with any regulatory regime under this legislation. I further add that the Irish Greyhound Board in the same submission stated that "the greyhound industry does not wish to circumvent or compromise any welfare initiatives". I submit to the House that exempting greyhounds from regulations under the Bill would do both.

Such regulation has to be funded and it is not my proposition that the taxpayer would be asked to fund this regulatory regime. It is only proper that the cost of the regulation should be met by the sector being regulated and which will benefit from this regulation in the long run. The charges proposed in the Bill for breeding establishments are quite modest. The potential income stream from greyhound racing and coursing should render such establishments well placed to meet the registration fees proposed in the Bill. Therefore, I do not propose to extend the limited exemptions in section 13 to any other organisation.

My office is in receipt of a letter dated 16 February 2010 from the CEO of the Irish Greyhound Board, Mr. Adrian Neilan, in which he states the welfare standards of greyhounds are maintained by registration, ear-marking and DNA profiling, inspections by 20 control and stipendiary stewards and attendance at all stadia by veterinary surgeons. This is also the point made by Senator Coffey. It is important to point out that these activities are, in the main, conducted in the vicinity of the race meetings and are for the sole purpose of recording matings, litters, namings or transfers of greyhounds. The correspondence does not instance any inspection regime for greyhound breeding establishments for dog welfare purposes. I reiterate the 1958 Act and this Bill have a completely different emphasis and therefore, I do not propose to accede to the exemption proposed.

Comments

Conor Power
Posted on 5 Mar 2010 7:23 pm (Report this comment)

The minister is incorrect when he states that "It is important to point out that these activities are, in the main, conducted in the vicinity of the race meetings" in relation to inspections by Irish Greyhound Board officials. IGB control stewards can and do carry out kennel inspections at any time. Brood bitches can be and are inspected prior to whelping (giving birth) to a litter.
Pups can be inspected at any time once they have been born. Once the pups have had their vaccinations the control steward will again call to take the individual pups markings. He will give them their unique identification tattoos and take a DNA sample of each pup to prove it's pedigree.

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