Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for their presentation. Some of the questions I wanted to ask have already been asked by other members. I was interested to read in the opening statement about the work with Ms Forde and the good working relationship with her but then it was said that real progress has been disappointingly slow due perhaps to the fact that Ms Forde can no longer meet with the witnesses. Could the witnesses expand a little on that?

I accept everything that has been said about integrity. Head 21 of the Bill sets out the make up of the control committee and the criteria for people involved in it. Do the witnesses think that is adequate in terms of providing for the integrity of the control committee and the work it does?

Reference is made on the second page of the presentation to an independent laboratory for sampling. Is that independent of the Limerick laboratory and if that is the case why is the Limerick laboratory even there?

Head 14 proposes to remove the criminal sanction for breaches of the racing code and the intention is to replace it with financial penalties. How do the witnesses feel about that? Do they believe penalties are adequate or that the criminal sanction should be retained for people who interfere with dogs?

Last week when it was before the committee the ISPCA said its recommendation is that a bitch should have no more than five litters and the legislation proposes nine. Do the witnesses have any views on that?