Mick Barry (Cork North Central, Anti-Austerity Alliance) | Oireachtas source

The Anti-Austerity Alliance and People Before Profit wish to express their sorrow and anger at the horrific terrorist attack on the LGBT community in Orlando, Florida. We wish to show our solidarity with the LGBT community in the United States and internationally. We echo the view in the LGBT community that this should be an occasion on which to show unity and solidarity among ordinary people and that there should be no racist or Islamophobic response. It is more important than ever that the fight against homophobia which, unfortunately, affects all societies be stepped up in a serious way.

I refer to the export of Irish greyhounds to Macau.

It continues apace and is a virtual death sentence for the dogs. In Macau dogs that are not winners and that get injured are put down. As a result of the death sentence on them, the Australian state recently banned the export of its dogs there. As the Taoiseach will be aware, people here are campaigning for a similar ban, which would be right and proper. Shame should not be brought on this country by the export of dogs to Macau for racing and to be killed. Are there plans to introduce legislation to prevent the export of Irish greyhounds to Macau or any other country which does not have proper legislation in place guaranteeing the welfare of animals?

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