Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I ask the Leas-Cheann Comhairle to indulge me also. I congratulate the four Deputies who are heading to the European Parliament on their last official day as Members of the Dáil. I wish them well. The new European Parliament will meet for the first time on 2 July and Ireland will be well represented. I hope that if they want to come back, they will be able to do so. There is nothing wrong with gaining a little experience in the European Parliament and coming back to put it to good use here.

I have not seen the "RTÉ Investigates" programme yet, but I have seen some clips. I will watch it and expect that when I do, it will make me very angry. The Government and its predecessor have taken the issue of animal welfare very seriously. With the support of all parties in the Oireachtas, we introduced the most extensive ever animal welfare legislation. We agreed to review in detail the greyhound industry and how it was run. To that end, an Indecon report was commissioned and its recommendations were acted on. New legislation is in place on the back of it to change structures within the industry to ensure traceability can be delivered with no excuses. I promise the House, having spoken to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine this morning, that the illegality evident in last night's report will be followed up and that we will look to secure prosecutions where we can. Just under 80 prosecutions have followed the introduction of the new animal welfare legislation, but there are other things on which we need to follow up, too. If Irish greyhounds are being sent to the United Kingdom to be exported to parts of the world where we cannot guarantee their welfare, we will speak to the United Kingdom about it to try to shut it off. People expect assurances and transparency on animal welfare standards in Ireland and expect prosecutions when it is not delivered. Last night's programme was a wake-up call that all was not right, even though legislation is in place to secure prosecutions. We will follow up on it.

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