Dr. Colm Gaynor:

I agree with Deputy Penrose about anabolic substances. Those substances are prohibited with no limits whatsoever. However, therapeutics or contaminants are inevitable because we must treat animals. We have to set limits. If it is below a limit which does not affect the performance, all is well. If it is above the limit, then no race and sanction if raced.

I agree with the Deputy on strict liability. The rules of racing are set out in a statutory instrument. We are almost unique as a sports regulatory body. We are a public authority completely and not a private body. The Greyhound Board of Great Britain is a company limited by guarantee and run by its members. They can set out their rules in a very different way from us. All our rules are laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. Members have a chance to examine and decide on them. It is like a Department in that respect and, therefore, they will look different. They will have greater force of law. There is no dispute about that.

There is full judicial review of the Irish Greyhound Board. There is no judicial review of the Greyhound Board of Great Britain. Our racing regulations are framed towards strict liability as matters stands. When the legislation passes, which we hope it will, and consolidated versions of the rules of racing are brought out, that will be clarified and made stronger if necessary.

One comes in with a positive, one makes excuses. A point made by people writing on horse racing in Ireland recently is that not every positive test result is a case of cheating. Some positives are mistakes. They may be people who genuinely treated animals and observed the required period of withdrawal. However, in the case of a dog itself, it might not have been enough.

It is not all cheating. Some are a result of mistakes but they are still, strictly, liable. That is the way it is.

I will reinforce what was said about the six litters and breeding because it has arisen in debates when members have asked where the provision came from. The Irish Kennel Club has the same rule for every breed it recognises. The dog must be older than one year, less than eight years old and have had no more than six litters. In the case of greyhounds, that number is two if there is a veterinary certificate to go with the dog.

Mr. Pat Herbert already mentioned we do not have an objection to the ISPCA inspectors being authorised. The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 contains provisions for service agreements with NGOs for the enforcement of welfare. The ISPCA has one so it is a question of the service level agreement. We have had a recent case in which we think we could do with a service level agreement with the Department with regard to the same Act to try to improve our ability to deal with welfare. That case is ongoing.