Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is almost like we are resuming from Committee Stage and we did not do too well with these amendments there. We will try again this evening. These amendments in my name and the names of my colleagues, Deputies Broughan, Wallace, Clare Daly and Pringle, are made in the context of animal welfare. The reality is that we have too many examples of appalling cruelty to greyhounds, notwithstanding those greyhound owners who do look after their dogs, including those no longer of use and no longer making money. The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 did not address this issue for various reasons. We have an opportunity with this Bill, however, to come to grips with and address cruelty to our greyhounds.

I mentioned on Committee Stage that it is great that there is a ban on using wild animals for entertainment purposes. Why do we not have a similar ban on greyhounds being used for entertainment purposes in places such as Macau, Pakistan and China? Sadly, it was not the greyhound industry in Ireland that highlighted or tried to address these abuses. Animal welfare groups highlighted them. These groups also highlighted that there are no animal welfare guidelines or regulations in those countries, yet we still allow our greyhounds to be exported there. We have proof of the abuse and we are not talking pie in the sky about these issues. We know that a number of Irish greyhound breeders keep appearing on a Chinese database. We know copies of stud books have been uploaded showing greyhounds previously registered to race in Ireland now advertised as breeding material for China. Those are the facts and we know our greyhounds are going to those countries. Details of 41 Irish greyhounds have been uploaded to this Chinese website. Those are our greyhounds that are not wanted by their owners here anymore. Animal welfare groups in Ireland will take them in, however. These greyhounds are facing extreme cruelty in the countries to which they are being exported. I have seen some of these greyhounds when they have been brought back to Ireland. It is appalling and an appalling scandal that welfare groups in Britain are rescuing our greyhounds. They do not want to bring those greyhounds back to Ireland because of the treatment of greyhounds here. That is a scandal in itself. While the vast majority of Irish dogs go to the UK, and the trade is with the EU and covered by EU regulations, we know countries in the EU are being used as transit countries.

Let us examine amendments Nos. 1 and 5 to 8, inclusive. The common denominator is welfare. I am tired of hearing how much people love animals. When they have an opportunity to do something about animal welfare, they are not taking it. There is an opportunity to do something here this evening. If we do not take it and proceed with these amendments, we are consigning Irish greyhounds, when they are no longer of use and no longer making money, to exportation to countries where they will suffer horrifically. We are only talking about a limited number of owners but they are notorious. The majority of owners do look after their greyhounds. The reality, however, is that we are doing nothing about those greyhound owners knowingly exporting their greyhounds to countries where the dogs are going to be treated appallingly.

Another reality is that attendance at greyhound events is falling and that will impact on funding. It is likely, therefore, that we will see these exports increasing. Amendment No. 5 concerns a list of countries outside of the EU and is only aimed at ensuring that minimum standards will be met in the countries where Irish greyhounds can be exported. A number of researchers would be required to examine those countries where we know there is a lack of animal welfare. It would be very easy to put together a list showing those countries. We would just have to check and it would be obvious where there are no enforceable animal welfare protections in countries. Amendment No. 6 provides for fines and imprisonment for greyhound exporters who are convicted. They will never get to be convicted, however, unless we accept some amendments that will let us go after them and get them. It took a long time in Ireland but we are now seeing people being punished with fines and imprisonment for horrific abuse and mistreatment of animals here. We are not, however, accepting that much mistreatment is experienced by our animals in the countries where we knowingly send them. This amendment states that the abuse-----

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