Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The witnesses know the answers to Deputy Kenny's questions. Can we get a comparison with UK figures and the level of testing in the UK? The Chairman told us to stick to the heads of the Bill. The Bill is a cornerstone of rebuilding confidence in the industry. I am extremely disappointed, as I said when we met in private session, that the Irish Greyhound Owners and Breeders Federation has not come in here to make a verbal submission to us. The industry has been getting severe, adverse publicity for the past number of months. We have to get the Bill right to restore public confidence. Deputy Kenny asked a question about the level of positive test results. While we do not want any positive test results in the industry, the level is exceptionally low. From recollection, 70% to 80% of those positive test results are due to residue caused by feed contamination. I saw a figure that about 70% of the positives are attributed to feed contamination. The level of doping is extremely low.

We have to get public confidence back. I referred earlier to a highly publicised case on derby final night a number of years ago. Can we be confident that in future there will be controls on all tracks to ensure that if a dog tests positive, we will be able to stand behind the result and there will not be any legal consequence for the industry? The case I referred to dragged on for five or six years and attracted very adverse publicity for the industry. It happened on the marquee night and put a serious cloud over the industry. The board did not come out of that episode well. We have to ensure that in future if a dog tests positive, there is no trap door the owner or trainer of the dog can get through so that the liability falls on the industry. They must face the full rigours of the regulations. We have to restore public confidence.

Dr. Gaynor referred to the export of greyhounds to non-EU countries. Is he saying we can ensure that proper welfare standards apply to exports to EU countries? Animal welfare activists have question marks over some European countries to which dogs are exported. We will have submissions to the committee on the agriculture budget. Bord na gCon is a significant net beneficiary of that budget. The industry is troubled. I accept the Chairman's ruling that this is not the forum to discuss it. The issues need to be resolved quickly. If it is outside the ambit of this discussion, I will accept the Chairman's ruling on it. We have to get public confidence back behind testing for doping. I want assurances from the chairman of the board that in all tracks in the country, the board will be fully able to stand over the results of all tests done by board officials and staff and that there will be no come-back on the board.