James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I move amendment No. 1:

To delete all words after “Dáil Éireann” and substitute the following:

"acknowledges that:

—there is a strong commitment to improved animal welfare in this sector in the Programme for Government ‘Our Shared Future’;

—future funding of the sector is contingent on welfare standards being upheld on an annual basis and compliance with welfare standards in the sector will be strictly monitored;

—the greyhound sector is particularly challenged by Covid-19;

—the increase in the betting tax on all sports has gone from one per cent to two per cent, providing increased funding to the Exchequer and revenue from the tax in 2019 was €95 million;

—the most recent economic assessment of the industry was undertaken by Jim Power Economics in November 2017, and it indicated that the greyhound industry delivers a significant impact to the national economy with 12,371 people deriving economic benefit; and

—staff employed by Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) as per its Annual Report for 2019 was 125 full-time staff and 112 part-time staff (measured in full time equivalents) and approximately 700 casual staff are employed at peak periods of activity with a wide geographical spread across the country; and

notes that:

—the proposed allocation from the Horse and Greyhound Fund is set to increase from €16.8 million to €19.2 million in 2021 and this increase is necessary to take account of the severe impact of Covid-19 on the sport and industry, and also to maintain the ongoing level of activity;

—the RCÉ is fully committed to the provisions in the Programme for Government ‘Our Shared Future’ regarding the care and welfare of the greyhound and the RCÉ will be required to account to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for its activities in this area annually;

—the Greyhound Racing Act 2019 represents the first major upgrade of the Greyhound Industry Act 1958 and the RCÉ is focused on implementing in full the provisions of the Act as the relevant sections are commenced;

—a key element of the new legislation is the provision for the first time for a full IT traceability system for racing greyhounds and the RCÉ has advanced this system following a procurement process and expect to have the system operational by year end with statutory regulation to follow in 2021, and this will provide a mechanism to ensure that racing greyhounds are properly registered and traceable throughout their lives and that there are strong enforcement mechanisms in place to ensure that this is the case;

—the traceability system will ensure that important life events in the life of the racing greyhound including birth, microchipping, registration, racing career, changes of ownership/trainer, location, export, retirement and end-of-life are accurately recorded;

—the RCÉ has been implementing an ambitious care and welfare programme with the following elements being progressed: — the setting up of a Care Fund in 2019, the funding sources are as follows:

— 50 per cent of all existing sponsorships;

— 10 per cent of all admissions;

— 10 per cent of all restaurant packages; and

— 5 per cent of net Tote profits; — notwithstanding the collapse in commercial revenues arising from the impact of Covid-19 and resultant impact on Care Fund income, the RCÉ is committed to increasing the spend on care and welfare as part of its overall programme;

— the opening of the first Care Centre in Thurles in July 2020, which will act as a half-way house between the end of a racing career and the placing of the greyhound in its ‘forever home’ and the centre will allow greyhounds to be socialised and for interested parties to consider the fostering or adoption of a greyhound in such a setting;

— the implementation of an extensive rehoming programme with over 1,300 greyhounds rehomed in 2020 to date with assistance from the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust, an entity established by the RCÉ;

— the introduction of a financial incentive for all domestic rehomings to encourage more rehoming in Ireland;

— the implementation of a Foster-to-Adopt Scheme;

— the operation of an Injuries at Tracks Recovery Scheme whereby funding is available to address injuries sustained to racing greyhounds to ensure that they can be retired from greyhound racing;

— the establishing of a confidential phone line/email through which any welfare issues can be reported on a 24/7 basis and all reports are fully investigated by RCÉ welfare staff;

— the full utilisation of the Exclusion Order process whereby a party can be excluded from being on a greyhound racing track and six such orders were issued in 2020, with a number of other investigations pending;

— the updating of the Code of Practice for the Care and Welfare of the updating of the Code of Practice for the Care and Welfare of the Greyhound which is at present on public consultation, as this is provided for under the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011;

— the continuing of an intense testing regime both at race events and through out-of-competition testing and the urine sampling regime has been expanded in 2020 to also cover, on a periodic basis, blood sampling, while work is also under way in terms of the necessary protocols to implement further enhancements of the testing regime through hair sampling; and

— the RCÉ implemented a Covid-19 Care Payment Scheme during the period of suspension of racing activity from March to June 2020, and some €998,000 was paid under the scheme to ensure that the welfare needs of the racing greyhound were met during a period when racing activity was suspended."

Successive Governments have acknowledged the importance of the greyhound industry and have supported it through legislation and policy initiatives. The support provided by public funds through investment in the greyhound industry has enabled Ireland to develop a reputation for excellence in greyhound racing and breeding. Funding of the greyhound industry ensures that the sector achieves its maximum potential and that it contributes to economic, social and cultural development. The activity has a strong regional spread and plays a significant role in the broader economy, specifically that in rural areas. The future of the industry is dependent on a strong governance platform and on the industry having the highest standards of integrity and welfare founded on a strong regulatory system.

The Covid-19 pandemic poses particular challenges for Rásaíocht Con Éireann and the greyhound racing industry as a whole. The Government's plan for living with Covid-19, Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021, does not provide, at any of the levels set out, for a return to full commercial operations. This will impact significantly on the finances of Rásaíocht Con Éireann this year and up to the end of the time span of the plan in June 2021. It is essential, in these circumstances that additional Covid-related supports are made available to Rásaíocht Con Éireann, reflecting costs incurred and changes to the trading environment.

According to the 2017 Power report, the greyhound industry provides and supports considerable employment, directly and indirectly, across the Irish economy. It is estimated that the industry supported 5,058 full-time and part-time jobs in the economy in 2016. In addition, there are 7,313 active greyhound owners. The total number of people deriving economic benefit from the sector is estimated at 12,371. Greyhound racing is an important part of the fabric of rural Ireland and traditionally has strong links to farming. However, it also enjoys a strong urban support base. The industry also contributes to poverty proofing by providing an additional income for members of the farming community in particular. The industry and sport are open to male and female participants, with both high-profile male and female trainers currently involved in the industry.

The future of the industry is dependent on a strong governance platform and on the industry having the highest standards of integrity and welfare founded on a strong regulatory system. Provisions in the Greyhound Racing Act 2019, which came into effect on the 28 May 2019, will make a real difference. This legislation strengthens the legal basis for the industry, with a view to fortifying the integrity of the greyhound racing sector and improving provision for greyhound traceability. The Act will improve the governance of Rásaíocht Con Éireann, strengthen regulatory controls in the industry, modernise sanctions and improve integrity within the sector. It provides the industry with real tools with which it can effect fundamental change and reform.

Animal welfare issues are central to Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine engagements with the greyhound sector and funding is contingent on animal welfare measures being implemented. The Department ring-fenced 10% of the fund allocation to Rásaíocht Con Éireann in 2020 for welfare initiatives and will implement similar criteria for funding in 2021. Rásaíocht Con Éireann has been implementing an ambitious care and welfare programme, with a suite of measures being progressed, including the opening of the first care centre in Thurles in July 2020, the implementation of an extensive rehoming programme with over 1,300 greyhounds rehomed in 2020 and the introduction of a financial incentive for all domestic rehoming to encourage more rehoming in Ireland. A key element of the new legislation is the provision for the first time for a traceability system. The greyhound industry is predominantly a rural industry with a strong urban support base and the Covid-19 crisis, as in other sectors of the economy, resulted in a collapse of commercial activity in greyhound racing and a significant reduction of activity generally. Recovery of the industry will require ongoing support to aid restoration of normal levels of activity and to adequately manage the welfare issues that arise.

The advent of new technologies and business models has challenged Government to re-evaluate the funding mechanisms for the industry. As part of its overall commitment to the industry, the Government has addressed, through legislation, the anomaly whereby remote and online betting operators were outside the tax net. Betting tax was increased from 1% to 2% in budget 2019 and, as I said earlier, contributed €95 million to the Exchequer in 2019.

The funding being provided to the greyhound racing sector helps sustain a long-standing tradition as the industry is part of the social fabric of our country. This funding underpins economic activity in what are, in many instances, less affluent regions. Relieving the burden on our major urban centres and nurturing rural economies is a key priority for the Government. In this context, this industry should be given recognition for its contribution to rural economic activity and employment. It is crucial that we support the sector at this critical time as it faces the perils of Covid-19 and Brexit as we enter 2021. In doing so, we will help to support and protect both jobs and the economic benefit derived by individuals involved in the sport and industry. Accordingly, I am seeking the support of this House to ensure Rásaíocht Con Éireann can receive the funding provided for in budget 2021. I commend the countermotion to the House.

See this speech in context