Ms Brigid Frank:

We are grateful for this opportunity - after two and a half years waiting - to voice our concerns. I will outline a history of our federation and our feelings on this issue.

The Irish Greyhound Owners and Breeders Federation, IGOBF, has been in existence for over 40 years and is the controlling body of all regional greyhound owners and breeders associations, GOBAs. It is subject to a written constitution and is administered by a democratically-elected national committee consisting of officers and representatives from each of the affiliated associations.

The primary objectives of the federation are: to co-ordinate the efforts of all associations; to safeguard the rights of the members and to promote their best interests in so far as they relate to the breeding, rearing, maintaining, training, racing, coursing and selling of greyhounds; to make effective representations and contributions to the Irish Greyhound Board, IGB, the Irish Coursing Club, ICC, and the Minister with responsibility for the Irish greyhound industry; and to ensure the IGB board of directors, track management and the ICC do not act to the detriment of the members of GOBAs. Dáil Éireann has recognised the Irish Greyhound Owners and Breeders Federation as a valuable asset to the Irish greyhound industry by including it on the register of nominating bodies under the Seanad Electoral (Panel Members) Acts 1947 to 1972. In other words, we are the watchdogs for the industry.

Greyhounds hold several unique distinctions among their canine brethren. Not only are they the oldest breed of purebred dogs, dating back to the pharaohs of ancient Egypt, they are also the fastest dogs on earth. Greyhounds can run as fast as 45 mph and can average 30 mph for a distance of up to a mile. Those of us who have chosen greyhound racing as a hobby have created a massive industry with employment for many people, be it in the dog food business, veterinarian medicine, veterinary supplies, pet supplies, ministerial portfolios, greyhound board personnel, track management and maintenance, regulatory committees and so forth. Greyhound racing, in its initial stages, was run by people like us without pay and we still do a great deal of that now. My pension has taken a fierce hit due to the cost.

This is a huge tree of industry and it has many branches. A large number of those branches were allowed to grow wild and untamed instead of being clipped and cut from time to time to allow the base the nourishment it needs to withstand the weight at the top. This tree of industry will not weather the storm under its top-heavy branches. There is currently a serious threat to our hobby and the industry to which it has given rise. We are here today because we requested a meeting with the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine two and a half years ago to voice our concerns about the massive decline in our industry and the fact that the board, which is a semi-State body, was set up as a regulatory entity but has since diversified and, in so doing, has created the massive debt that is now overshadowing the industry.

Our three main concerns are the non-implementation of rules and regulations, the financial situation and drug issues. Drug issues have been a major concern for us for the past four years and we have submitted proposals to the board to address this problem. We have a zero-tolerance policy on drugs. Breeding is also a major issue and we believe that no dogs equals no jobs equals no industry.