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

All the amendments in the grouping, including this one, are simple. They revolve around animal welfare and ensuring that greyhounds are treated well in Ireland and if they are sent abroad. We are either committed to animal welfare or not. We have plenty of examples of mistreatment, such as the recent cases of a horse that was found emaciated and a foal that was beaten to death near Fethard by two young people, and there is video footage of a hare being mauled by greyhounds. We are trying to prevent Irish greyhounds from being exported to countries where we know they will not be treated properly and where animal welfare regulations are lacking. If the amendments are not accepted, we will knowingly allow our greyhounds to be sent to appalling conditions. We know exactly what happens in such countries because animal welfare groups have the evidence and it can be seen in greyhounds rescued by the groups. Accepting the amendment will send out a message that we care. I accept that such a law will be difficult to implement but that should not mean we will not try. If we were to apply that yardstick when passing all legislation, nothing would get through. We are seeking to control where greyhounds are sent when they no longer race or make a profit for their owners. We do not want them to be sent to countries where we know they will be treated horrifically. By rejecting the amendments, we will say such exports are okay, sending greyhounds to these countries should be allowed, there is nothing we can do about it and everything is fine. Greyhounds deserve an awful lot more than that from the House. We should try to do what we can, difficult and all as it might be, to ensure their welfare. I reiterate that it is not as though we do not know what happens in some of these countries, which makes it all the more incumbent on us not to send greyhounds to them.

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