Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle, the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and the Deputies for their contributions. I welcome that there has been such engagement on the Bill from the Members of this House and, indeed, in the Seanad beforehand, and the fact that we have progressed.

I also take the opportunity to thank my diligent officials who cannot be here for this part of the process, but they know who they are. The Bill has been in gestation for a long time and gone through pre-legislative scrutiny. When I was Chairman of the then Oireachtas Joint Committee on Communications, Natural Resources and Agriculture, we produced a report on foot of the Indecon report and other reports. It is fitting that the Tánaiste is present because he was the man who commissioned the Indecon report. The Bill addresses issues identified in a number of reports on the greyhound racing sector related to governance and regulation. It addresses governance issues in Bord na gCon, strengthens regulatory controls in the industry, modernises sanctions, improves integrity, includes ensuring the welfare of greyhounds as one of the statutory functions of the new Rásaíocht Con Éireann and provides it with powers to make regulations related to integrity, anti-doping measures, administration and traceability to deal with the deficits which impact on the industry. The new Bill will strengthen the greyhound racing industry by enabling it to deal with the challenges it faces and maximise its potential.

I wish everybody involved the greyhound racing sector the best of luck. We have done a good job to allow them to grow the sector, enhance its reputation and achieve its real potential.

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