Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 17 December 2019

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Irish Greyhound Industry: Irish Coursing Club

Mr. D.J. Histon:

Greyhound breeding establishments are covered by the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011. If a person holds four or more brood bitches, he or she must hold a greyhound breeding establishment licence. We issue that licence.

I was also asked about the seizure of 12 greyhounds over the weekend by Revenue's customs officials. The controls in place worked because the shipment or transport did not take place and was caught where it should be caught, namely, at the port. The case is being investigated by the IGB and, I am sure, the Department. A number of issues arise related to the transport authorisation that is required under the EU transport regulations and the requirement to have Balai certificates and pet passports. There may also be issues under the Animal Health and Welfare Act and the Welfare of Greyhounds Act. There are a number of Acts in play that may or may not impact on this particular transport.