Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)

I welcome any attempt to increase public confidence in greyhound racing which, with an excellent track in Tralee, is an important sport in my constituency. It is vital that such an important sport conducts itself in a completely transparent manner.

Last Saturday night, I attended the greyhound track in Tralee with other Deputies from my constituency to take part in a fundraising event by the Spa, Churchill and Fenit communities for a playground for young people. It is a fantastic facility and I compliment everybody involved.

Going to watch greyhound racing is, as the Minister indicated, a wonderful social occasion. He used the word "integrity" and it jumped out at me because the integrity of the industry is important. Unfortunately, there is a sense of doubt in many people's minds. In the majority of cases there is no problem and only a small minority have anything to fear from drug-testing of dogs and other safeguards to ensure that the sport is pursued fairly and with due regard to the safety and health of animals involved. This issue is of interest as a result of recent controversy regarding the position of the chairman of Bord na gCon, particularly in respect of leaks from the Dalton report into the sacking of the former chief executive, Mr. Aidan Tynan. That sacking centred on Mr. Tynan's claims regarding the failure to publish the results of dope tests. If that report recommended the introduction of mandatory testing, as leaked to the newspapers some weeks ago, this Bill merely anticipates what will be an early initiative on the part of the Minister to ensure that this is done.

I agree with proposals to ensure that drug testing on greyhounds is carried out in a more professional and secure manner. Procedures are loose and while nobody is alleging that abuse is widespread, there is scope for it. As previous speakers stated, there are many stories on how easy it would be to mask evidence of certain drugs in samples.

On the sacking of Mr. Tynan, there is the issue of accountability. Should a person harbour serious concerns on the manner in which greyhound racing is administered, he or she should be able to air them without fearing that his or her position will be threatened. That lies behind many concerns regarding the state of the sport in this country. There is a perception, rightly or wrongly, that cliques have developed, which have particular connections and interests. In any sphere of life, this leads to rumours. The solution is generally to ensure a regular turnover of people in positions of authority so that there is a healthy intake of new blood and ideas and that people have confidence in those in authority.

The Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism has a major responsibility in respect of the manner in which he appoints the members of Bord na gCon and maintains relationships with them. Members of State boards should be seen to be impartial. While they must have a background and interest in the sport, they should not be seen to ally with any interests in it. The Dalton report will hopefully lead to greater transparency in greyhound racing and the Government will address any areas of concern that will cast a shadow on a successful and positive sport.

I stress that allegations have been made. I do not say that they have been substantiated but I hear them constantly, as do other Deputies from rural areas who have an interest in the industry. There have been allegations of political interference. In the interests of public confidence, it is necessary to ensure that people's concerns are allayed. I have no difficulty supporting the proposal contained in this Bill.

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