Ms Eilis McCann:

That is right. Say, for example, that a supermarket or agricultural co-op sponsors a stake starting Thursday night in Enniscorthy for 24 greyhounds, with a winners' pool of €2,650. Say there is a greyhound entered that falls within the grades of A3 or A4, and is no better than A2 grade. It could do its very best and maybe just barely qualify in the first two rounds. It might win the semi-final and get €50. It would go on into the final but might then only get €40 for being unplaced. The people we represent might have a couple of greyhounds in training and may be a brood bitch. Then again, after the last few years, fewer of them would have a brood bitch. If the prize money was stepped up so that the heat winners got €100 and dogs unplaced in the final got €75 or €80, it would keep the wheels turning and the show on the road for another week or two. It has been pointed out to us that the €50 does not cover a whole lot nowadays with microchipping and everything that has been introduced in the last few years. We are not finding fault with microchipping; it is definitely good. It is the law now and we abide by it. However, it all incurs expense on the average owner. That was our point.