Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the funding but animal welfare issues across the board have to be looked at, not only greyhounds but every dog owner and horse owner. Anybody who has them should look after them. However, there is this underbelly going on with the slaughter of these animals by other dogs and there is no talk about it. Then we were forced to release all those hares, who were brought in by the clubs, well looked after, inoculated and everything else that was needed, in anticipation of the meetings and culminating in the international finals held every year at the coursing festival in Clonmel. This is worth €6 million to the town of Clonmel. That is not going to happen now. Apart from that, hares that are healthy are being slaughtered now and this should not happen. I thank the Chair for allowing me to finish. I am sorry for bringing that up but people who own the track greyhounds also own the dogs for coursing.