Paul Daly (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Most of what I was going to ask about has been covered by Deputies Cahill and Penrose. This is repetitive, but on the horrific issues raised by the RTÉ programme, when we sit back, look at it logically and seek constructive solutions, we have to return to the issue of traceability.

If there was a proper system of traceability, dogs would not go missing and there would not be illegal exports. Traceability of dogs is the key problem. Mr. Nyhan stated in his report that Bord na gCon will concentrate more on this. With bovine animals, their births are registered and every movement until their death is recorded. Has Bord na gCon the manpower and technology to handle this, particularly considering the number of dogs involved? What onus is on an owner to register a litter of pups? Is there a time by which an owner must have all the pups registered? If there is, how is it policed? If it is not, why is that the case? Can an owner wait to see how the pups are maturing to get an inkling of how they might be before registering them? That would be vitally important. For example, calves have to be registered within two weeks. Should that be the same with greyhounds? Will Bord na gCon be able to enact what it is proposing?

The Greyhound Racing Act was only signed by the Minister in May. If that had been enacted in 2014, what would have been different on the programme we viewed last week? What could have been changed?

Bord na gCon advertised recently for two stipendiary steward welfare officers. I am led to believe only one was employed. There always had been three and there are currently only two. In light of what we saw on the recent television programme, does Bord na gCon feel the three stipendiary stewards should have been maintained? Will this be addressed? What action is Bord na gCon proposing to take in this regard?