Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)

Members have a job to do and must confront and face up to the problem.

As for the question of greyhound dope testing, I have been told it is a joke. I have been told that picking a couple of dogs at random at a greyhound meeting is utterly inadequate. Furthermore, I have been told there are many ways of voiding and avoiding testing procedures and that doping samples are easily tampered with. One method involves dipping some bread soda into the urine, although I am unsure exactly how that works. Nevertheless, I have been assured the current system is quite ridiculous. A problem exists which is not being dealt with properly under the present regime. Consequently, the duty of Members as legislators is to take the matter in hand, as Fine Gael has done.

I know of the interests of the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism, Deputy O'Donoghue, in this area, as I knew of the interests of my constituency colleague, the former Minister for Agriculture and Food, Deputy Walsh. However, this problem has not been tackled and responsibility for that must lie with the Government. Hence, the controversy does not concern the row between the Minister and the chairman of Bord na gCon, Paschal Taggart, which is a matter for them to resolve and settle between themselves. The issue concerns the overall health of a most important industry.

I have seen leaks from the Dalton report, which is lying around, in the newspapers. While I do not know who takes responsibility for the leaks, the Government certainly does not take responsibility for anything. However, as far as that report is concerned, I say publish and be damned. It should be released in order that people will learn of the views of a respected retired civil servant on this issue. Above all, there should be openness and transparency.

I do not know whether the Minister presides over a rotten system. However, if it is perceived to be so by many, Members should face both the reality and the perception once and for all. This is a basic duty for Members. From such a perspective, it is clear the present role of Bord na gCon in regulating the entire industry and having responsibility for doping simply is not working. This issue has been confronted in other countries and procedures have been put in place which work to a far greater degree than is the case here. There must be integrity and fair play in the greyhound industry.

Luckily, given the new facilities which have been developed in the past ten years or so, more and more people flock to our race tracks. This is a positive development which I love to see, and I go to meetings myself. At a minimum however, customers and backers should have confidence that the greyhounds which they will back will win or lose fairly. Currently, that is not the perception, and there is a problem which must be dealt with. One way to do so is to accept the Bill proposed by Fine Gael.

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