Tim Lombard (Fine Gael)
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I will be brief as it is very late. We have had two presentations, one from the ICC, which give some clarity on the programme. Traceability came up again, and it was probably the key issue discussed in both presentations, and the matter of how we can put in place a platform that would work with traceability from birth until the dog is put to sleep. That will probably be the key issue for the entire industry into the future, and how we can work in a process that covers Northern Ireland, Ireland and the UK. It must be based on all three or it will not work. When we return in September, we must discuss how to implement this and ensure that we have a policy that will work.

Two organisations have come before the committee to explain the issues and what they believe needs to be done on welfare, what should happen to dogs at the end of their lives on the track and so on. Something that was raised earlier is the illegal hunting element, to which Mr. Histon's opening statement refers on page 4. As a landowner, I witnessed it myself last winter. People came onto my land whom I did not want there. I did not know what they were doing and knew no more about it until they started digging up ditches. It was crazy stuff. The illegal element is an important issue. It is unregulated and happening at all hours of the night and day. Some are lamping, putting up nets and God knows what else, without the permission of the landowner. It was mentioned earlier how fear is massive issue. There is great fear among landowners and rural dwellers where people are out lamping late at night or are hunting without permission, when we do not know what they are hunting or when or what they are at. That needs to be addressed.

We have discussed the tracks and coursings and the lack of regulation but this is illegal and bizarre. When we return in September, we should not simply examine how this issue has progressed but consider what we will do about this and how we will ensure that rural dwellers get some bit of security, especially on lamping. It is a massive issue in my part of the world at a particular time of the year, where there are big lights shining around the place.

We do not know what they are doing. It is crazy. We need to take those issues forward. The report and presentation follow on from what we have heard today. I refer to issues involving welfare, end of racing life, where we need to move dogs and a fund to be put in place. They all need to be reconsidered in a few months. When the recess ends in September, we should examine what progress has been made on these matters.