Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The witnesses are both very welcome. It is useful to have people come in and give us a broad range of views on the Bill. The greyhound industry has gone through much upheaval in recent years and we have been very aware of lobbies coming from all parts of the country to committee members and others in elected office on various issues, many of which have been raised today, especially in regard to doping and cheating the system. I seek clarity on a couple of issues. It was said that integrity is at the core of the group's focus, to the extent that it is included in the name of the organisation.

I am also interested in the new equipment in the lab in Limerick. We have heard a great deal about the cost of the lab in Limerick, the total inefficiency, and its inability to provide any kind of useful service. It does not seem to be able to test to the required levels and from what I have heard - the witnesses alluded to it in the opening statement - even if the best equipment was there if the people running it do not want to use the equipment properly or do the job properly it will not be done properly. That seems to be the inference that was made by the witnesses and I would like them to clarify that.

The witnesses mentioned that the prize money should be aimed at the many and not the few and that there should be a fair distribution of prize money. I would like to understand what exactly the witnesses mean by that. Does it imply that there is some kind of golden circle or a little group that takes all and leaves the rest behind? What exactly is meant by that?

I wish to follow on from what Deputy Penrose said. What is the view of the witnesses on what can be done in terms of the level of sanction that is possible to deal with people who break the rules or consistently offend? Witnesses from various organisations have come before the committee and one issue that has come up is the traceability of dogs and the position in that regard and the export of dogs to other countries. I would welcome the views of the witnesses on that matter also.

Previous witnesses mentioned the number of litters a bitch can have and what is appropriate. I would like to hear the view of witnesses from the point of view of breeders because we have heard the animal welfare perspective. I do not suggest breeders are not concerned with welfare but I refer to the animal welfare lobby specifically.