Mr. Martin Blake:

Fair enough. The Senator might let me know if there is something I forget. He started off on the lack of need for registration of canine germinal products on premises. The difference here is this applies to many of the farm animal species. That has come through either historical or EU legislation. The practice of artificial insemination in dogs does not have the same history and it is only becoming an issue that is actually hitting the public’s and Department’s attention in recent times.

As the Senator said, back in 2005 it was known and practised in the greyhound industry. Legislative arrangements were put in place to control the use of artificial insemination in greyhounds. This is an industry sport and it is run by a State body so it was important back then to ensure that there were parameters put around the use of artificial insemination in greyhounds. I am afraid I cannot speak from that space myself, but I am assuming that was the reason that was put in place back at the time.