John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)

I will be adopting the same consensual approach as I have adopted heretofore. I will engage not just with the stakeholders, but also, in this instance, with the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. He intends to amend the 1958 Act accordingly. This is being done because it is recognised now that the main purpose of the 1958 Act is to regulate the greyhound industry. It has been successful in doing that but its primary focus is not welfare and this Bill, after all, is a welfare piece of legislation. We want to ensure there is agreement among the people on the greyhound board that this is necessary. They are anxious to co-operate fully with us and I acknowledged this in my summing up on Second Stage. The Irish Coursing Club, in particular, has been most constructive in its proposals. I want to see this done. The Deputy asked about a time line. I would hope we can do this as quickly as possible in the autumn and, therefore, I will be in a position then, at the start of 2011, to bring forward a commencement order.

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