Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

I will not interrupt the Deputies when they speak. I am sure they have much to contribute. They should know the facts regarding these matters. The Government is asking us to buy a pig in a poke here. It is asking us to postpone the evil day until 1 January 2011 based on concerns Fianna Fáil backbenchers have expressed to the Minister, Deputy Gormley.

In other words, he is giving the Fianna Fáil backbenchers an opportunity to convince the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food that animal welfare in their terms is what is important in the 1958 Act, subject to amendment, and not this Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009. It is a political compromise to kick the issue to touch for six months. The commencement order will not come back to the House so we will not know what it will mean when the Minister, Deputy Gormley, signs it on 1 January 2011 if the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Deputy Brendan Smith, has a difficulty in implementing the necessary amendments in the Greyhound Industry Act 1958, subject to the approval and agreement of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Green Party. It is a nice move in order to get us over the summer but the winter is coming and these issues will return to haunt us again.

The political decision has been indicated to us and for that reason we cannot expect the House to do anything other than oppose this sort of sham.

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