John Cregan (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)

I welcome the opportunity to comment on the greyhound industry. While I do not doubt Deputy Deenihan's sentiments and belief in the industry, the Bill is premature and opportunistic and puts us at risk of talking down the industry. We should talk it up and be more positive. The recent controversy resulted in an independent inquiry. The Minister appointed Mr. Dalton, an eminent retired civil servant, and when he reported to the Minister last April, his Department immediately sought guidance from the Attorney General's office on how to proceed.

In accordance with the Attorney General's advice, copies and, in some cases, extracts of the Dalton report were sent to persons referred to in the report on a confidential basis to afford them an opportunity to submit observations on the report to the Minister by close of business on Wednesday, 31 May 2006. These submissions have been made available to Mr. Dalton to allow him to finalise his report following which the Minister will present proposals to his Cabinet colleagues for dealing with the recommendations made in the report. The Minister will seek approval for the immediate publication of the report. That is due process and must happen.

I praise the Minister for his personal interest not only in the greyhound industry but in sport in general throughout the country. Yesterday we saw his significant commitment to sport and how he has ensured he has provided substantial financial resources from the Government for sport throughout the country including the greyhound and horse industries, GAA, rugby and many others, including local and voluntary organisations. That is to be commended. I also commend the chairman and members of Bord na gCon for the fantastic and positive strides they have made in recent years towards putting infrastructure in place in many tracks throughout the country leading to extensive participation by the general public in greyhound racing, as has been mentioned by my colleagues. Many social occasions take place at greyhound racing tracks, including fundraising for voluntary clubs, schools and political and other organisations that depend on fundraising events. Greyhound racing is a great occasion and its use as a venue for fundraising is to be welcomed. Some 1.5 million people attend race nights because they have proper facilities and infrastructure. That has been done by this Government and this Minister and we should not lose sight of that.

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