Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State, but he still has not told me whether he will agree to including a white list in the legislation, which is what the welfare agencies want. He and his predecessors have told me that dogs have been exported to Argentina, Pakistan and China. I am always given the mantra that 80% of racing dogs in the UK are Irish, but they end up going from there to other countries. The problem is that countries with low standards of animal welfare are becoming homes for what are almost our national symbol, namely, our wonderful greyhounds. Last month, I asked the Minister of State about how one of our famous dogs, Droopys Patrice, had ended up in China. He told me that no greyhounds were exported directly to China, but that dog was found there.

Primary legislation needs to be strong on this matter. If the Minister of State wants, he can insert my Bill straight into his draft Bill or simply adopt mine as a Government Bill and bring it through the Houses. Either way, we need a white list so that we can ensure our dogs do not end up in places like the Canidrome in Macau.

See this speech in context