Ms Eilis McCann:

Dr. David McGrath, Ms Paula Hogan, who is in the Visitors Gallery, and I are here on behalf of Greyhound Racing Integrity Ireland. To give a short history of our group, Greyhound Racing Integrity Ireland was formed by owners, breeders and trainers of track greyhounds who were becoming increasingly aware of a perceived drugging problem in performing dogs. Members are predominantly but not exclusively from the south-east of Ireland. There appeared to be a culture of altering the performance of certain greyhounds, that is, slowing them for trials and subsequently "driving" them for races. There was widespread concern that cover-ups were the norm when certain dogs were tested and their samples proved positive for banned substances. As the group grew, we established an excellent working relationship with Ms Geraldine Larkin, former CEO, and Ms Hilary Forde, head of racing and governance of the Irish Greyhound Board. Ms Forde attended our AGM and also liaised on our behalf to have our committee included in discussions with Professor Morris, who gave us a very generous hearing and mentioned our proposals in his report.

We are delighted to say the IGB took on board the majority of our proposals, including out-of-competition testing, sales testing, publishing of analytical findings, increased security in kennelling areas and increased testing on all dogs of kennels where there have been multiple positive findings. Sales of Irish greyhounds were suffering due to the perceived low image of our dogs, so much so that the Greyhound Board of Great Britain, the British governing authority, issued more or less an ultimatum stating caveat emptor, or buyer beware, and that if one is going to buy Irish dogs, one should proceed very cautiously. To us, that truly was an insult and a slur. In the past, Irish greyhounds enjoyed the respect of a worldwide sporting audience. With a concerted effort from all stakeholders, they can soon resume their rightful place at the top of the racing world. Latterly, real progress has been disappointingly slow, due perhaps to the fact Ms Forde can no longer meet with us, unless at a forum which is organised by the IGB.

The ordinary owner feels that the credibility of the current board is compromised as it is felt that it does not keep its own rules. We appreciate the opportunity to come here today to meet with Oireachtas Members and we appeal to those in power to strive to provide a level playing field for all involved in this wonderful sport.

The following are our proposals. Integrity is at the core of every successful sport, therefore, those involved at all levels must be people of the highest integrity. Rules must be implemented with the welfare of the greyhound taking precedence, to the benefit of all, not just the few.

As regards the purchase of new equipment for the laboratory in Limerick, if tests are covered up, this purchase is a total waste of money. Time-finding and time-losing dogs are to be tested and results are to be published. Stud dogs are to be fully tested before a litter is sired and findings published. Without this breeders are taking a shot in the dark, which is a very costly move in some cases.

As regards greyhounds that break track records, before the record is ratified that dog should be sampled and the results published. The same goes for bitches who are going to retire to the breeding paddocks. A case can definitely be made that they also need to have their full history logged publicly.

The control committee has to be truly independent without any conflict of Interest. Is this currently the case? Classic winners' and track record breakers' samples should be taken and sent to an independent laboratory, for example, in Newmarket.

Fines must be large enough to act as a deterrent. Owners and trainers with multiple offences should be banned. The minimum fine should be €5,000. The same should apply to those whose dogs test positive for steroids, cocaine, etc. A red flag should appear by their names on the race card.

The administration of such substances is a highly serious breach of welfare. Most greyhound people are horrified by these actions, which are clearly animal abuse. If full confidence is to be restored to the sport, the IGB cannot tolerate or cover up such events. There should be a full ban on a trainer's licence and no transfer of the same licence to a family member.

All novice greyhounds should be tested in first round of major unraced stakes, as heat winners are quite often sold for large sums of money. In the case of any greyhound returning from Britain testing positive for any performance altering substance, the person in whose care the dog is should be fined. If the offence is found to have been repeated, a ban should be enforced until the dog tests clear. It should be published when the dog is cleared to run.

Payment of fines should be published and owners or trainers should not be allowed to run dogs again until the fine is paid. Prize money should always be aimed at the many and not the few. We are looking for a fair distribution of the prize money pool.

The grassroots of any sport should be recognised for what they are - the lifeblood and backbone of the sport. The rules must be clear, concise and adhered to fully. No exceptions should be made for anyone if a performance-altering substance is found. The penalty must act as a deterrent. Specific drug teams of up to ten independent people should be available to test greyhounds. In addition, it is vital to have an independent laboratory to which samples may be sent. Positive and negative results should be published to prove that all samples have been tested. This is absolutely vital to restore trust and confidence.

All of the above points I have raised are representative of the views of members of the Greyhound Racing Integrity Ireland Group.