Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)

Like Deputy Moynihan, I welcome the Bill. I pay tribute to and commend those in my party and others on the manner in which they sought to separate this Bill from the Dog Breeding Establishments Act sponsored by the former Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Mr. John Gormley. As a result of their actions, the former Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the current Minister of State were able to draft and bring forward this Bill to regulate the greyhound industry.

I do not wish to cast aspersions on the Dog Breeding Establishments Act, the purpose of which is to regulate an industry that had come under much public scrutiny. It is only right and proper that the necessary measures relating to animal welfare and other issues were given statutory effect in that Act. Those who, in the context of the Act, portrayed themselves to be maintaining the right sort of standards have been proven to be correct. This is despite the fact that everything has been delayed until the introduction of the Bill before the House.

The Bill underpins the significant welfare programmes that exist within the industry and that are maintained by Bord na gCon - the Irish Greyhound Board - and the Irish Coursing Club. Greyhound welfare is the business of everybody involved in the industry, whether it is the guy who rears a couple of pups or those who regulate or work in the industry. If we do not have welfare at the heart of everything that is done in the industry, nobody will come to watch the racing and participate in the industry and no tourists will come to the venues. This will have an impact on betting and a significant impact on the public purse as a result. The new legal standards contained in the Bill will ensure that our leading role in this industry worldwide will be maintained and protected and will that we have the legal structure in place to pursue those who do not adhere to the standards we aspire to maintain. While there are few of these, it is necessary to have the legal standing in place to ensure those who do not maintain the required standards are weeded out and held to account.

As mentioned by the Minister and by my colleague, the Government support of €5.5 million and the bookmakers' fund provide the funding and the basis from which the industry operates. For this level of support, some 10,000 jobs are delivered, mainly in rural areas. If these jobs are lost, they will be lost forever and those workers will never be able to transfer to other industries as they do not have the capacity to surpass the significant skill gap. The former Minister, Deputy Brendan Smith, published this Bill in 2010 with the purpose of regulating the level of welfare in the greyhound industry and to complement the Dog Breeding Establishments Act. The approach taken differs in some areas to that Act and has regard to the distinctive nature and controls applying to the keeping of registered greyhounds.

The greyhound industry already has a system of self regulation in place whereas the Dog Breeding Establishments Act provided for a whole new system of regulation around puppy farming, which had been unregulated until then. While it was agreed that the greyhound industry had a higher level of welfare overall, it was agreed the voluntary system within the industry needed to be put on a legislative basis. Last year, Fine Gael and Sinn Féin voted against the Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009, as they wanted to have the greyhound industry removed entirely from the Bill. Following the passage of the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010, it was agreed between the then Taoiseach and the then Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, to introduce separate legislation to regulate greyhounds within the context of the Greyhound Industry Act 1958.

Today, Fine Gael is bringing in the very measures it opposed in Opposition only a few months ago. The Minister referred to the extensive consultations that took place with all interested parties during the period of the previous Government, such as the IGB, ICC and representatives from the welfare sector. However, before the election Fine Gael constantly criticised what it said was a complete lack of consultation. I am prepared to forgive and forget. Fine Gael is welcome to the masses.

Some key areas of the Bill will enhance the welfare of greyhounds through the regulation of breeding establishments. The Bill in all its parts looks at the welfare of greyhounds, the establishment of breeding establishments and the provision of welfare officers appointed from local authorities.

The Irish Coursing Club identifies and registers greyhounds individually in the stud book so as to ensure the integrity of the racing system. The industry already has a system of self-regulation in place which can be readily adapted for welfare purposes, which this Bill uses as a starting point. Notwithstanding the provisions of the Bill applying to greyhounds in the stud book, there is merit in the establishment of a register of greyhound breeding establishments. These are premises at which not less than four greyhound bitches are kept, each of which is more than 15 months old. The scope of the Bill extends to all greyhounds in the racing and coursing industry, not only those found on a premises that is registered as a greyhound breeding establishment under the Bill. We are confident the provisions for the welfare of greyhounds in this Bill and the extensive powers given to welfare officers will result in a high standard of welfare for greyhounds. The Bill provides a period of up to three months from the commencement of the Act for greyhound breeding establishments to be registered.

We welcome the Bill, the methodology behind it and the manner in which it cements a self regulating industry which was under the jurisdiction of the ICC and IGB heretofore. Extensive extra legal powers are now given to ensure we can root out those who do not apply the accepted standards to which we have grown accustomed.

I would like to move on to the whole area of the greyhound history. Deputy Moynihan pointed out the fantastic input the industry has, not only in rural life by way of being a hobby or augmenting the incomes of small farms but as an industry with a huge impact in the area of employment. There are approximately 10,000 people employed directly and indirectly in the industry. The wage bill generated is estimated to be €207 million and the tax contribution from this employment is estimated at €21 million. Employment in the industry is spread across the country. The regional dispersion is reflected in the spread of 17 tracks in the country and the ownership of greyhounds in every county. The race meetings generate significant levels of expenditure and economic activity every week in rural towns, while greyhound owners make a significant contribution to economic activity through the purchase of various goods and services to maintain ownership. The industry generates activity and employment in rural areas which would not happen in the absence of this important and indigenous industry. Between 2002 and 2010, some 18,200 race meetings were held in the Republic, attended by 10.25 million people.

Funding of the industry has suffered during the downturn. The contribution from the horse and greyhound fund has declined significantly over the past three years. The contribution peaked at €15.3 million in 2008, but in 2010 had fallen by 22% to just under €12 million. Despite the significant decline of €1.7 million in funding, prize money grant structures were maintained in 2009. It was only in 2010 that the prize money grant structure reflected the decline in funding which commenced in 2009. There was a further decline of €1.7 million in funding from the horse and greyhound fund in 2010. The prize money grant per race represents very good value given the economic contribution of the sector and the level of economic activity involved in getting greyhounds born, reared, trained and ready to race. In 2009, 21,300 greyhound races were held in Ireland. The average prize money grant was just €355 per race. This small level of contribution per race represents good value for money, given the economic and financial contribution that owners competing in that race provide to the economy in getting their greyhound ready for the race. The total cost to greyhound owners each year of keeping the greyhound pipeline in operation is approximately €244 million. This is a significant amount of expenditure and much of it is injected into local economies, supporting thousands of jobs.

The Irish Greyhound Board delivered a comprehensive and impressive financial performance in recent years, despite the changed economic climate. Costs have been cut and greater efficiencies achieved and the industry has been strongly supported. It has managed to deliver higher profits, more capital development and higher prize money between 2007 and 2010 than in the preceding four-year period, despite the difficult economic environment. In order to sustain and grow the industry in future, proper, sustainable funding mechanisms must be put in place. Some of this funding will come from betting channels. Without adequate and sustainable funding, the industry will struggle to sustain itself, its current contribution to the economy will suffer and its enormous potential will not be realised. The industry makes a significant, economic impact across Ireland and the potential is considerable.

Ireland is regarded as a world class player in dog breeding and there must be significant potential to exploit this further. Greyhounds can become an even more significant export industry than has been the case, although already quite significant, and the Irish industry model can be transferred to other countries. That aspect is being investigated and developed. It is something I support. The domestic tourism potential is also greater than envisaged at present.

With regard to the exportation of our outstanding model, which is sought and admired by many others worldwide, the greyhound welfare aspect of the industry is its lifeblood. Without the right welfare system in place and adherence thereto, the industry would not be the thriving one that it is and can be. This being the case, who is to say we cannot seek to have our mechanisms, standards and procedures in place in countries to which we seek to export our model? It is only with these in place that we would export the model and that the industry would become self-sustaining and generate greater profits than have been generated heretofore, even against the current economic backdrop.

I ask the Minister of State to support all the efforts being made to seek to export our model, which is the envy of many others. Were our model sold to the right countries and interested parties, it would represent a huge net gain to this country's coffers and economic viability. The potential is considerable and I hope we do not hide behind scaremongering correspondence such as the e-mails I have received. I know the industry and grew up with it and realise its potential. I grew up realising its impact on rural communities and its great social benefit. It has the potential to be exported and nobody should stand in the way of the Department, the Irish Coursing Club and the Irish Greyhound Board in exploring this to the utmost. It would be a shame if the Minister of State were blocked by someone casting groundless aspersions.

I ask the Minister of State not to let us down in this regard. I ask him to return to the House to outline progress in this area. I commend him on bringing forward the Bill as devised by the previous Government. I ask all Members to support it and to take note of what is said in the House.

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