Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I also want to talk on the Sinn Féin amendment to the motion. I assure Deputy Cairns that I have no interest in or connection with the greyhound industry, good, bad or indifferent.

I must make it clear that Sinn Féin is not opposed to State support for the greyhound sector. I am from County Tipperary where greyhound racing makes an important contribution economically and socially for many families in my constituency. It is a tradition and a skill that has been handed down through the generations. Many people in my constituency believe it is a staple part of rural life.

While some people may agree with greyhound racing and others will not, I do know that the reason for the scandal that shocked the country and rocked the sector last year cannot be attributed to the vast majority of those involved in the sport. That is a truth that I must put out there. The vast majority of those who rear, train and walk their dogs along the roads in my county care for their animals. They carefully rear them, they look after them, make sure they get the veterinary attention they need, and ensure they get plenty of exercise. They were appalled at all of those revelations and were ashamed at the practices of some rogue practitioners. Abuse of this nature must be condemned outright. There are no words available that can describe the sense of outrage that was felt. Anybody who sees a dog, or any animal, as something that can be abused, neglected or cast aside without a second thought, is someone I do not want to know. It is someone who should have the full force of the law brought down upon them.

This brings me to the next issue I want to address, which is the funding of the greyhound industry and animal welfare. At yesterday's Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture and the Marine we heard the concern of everyone present for the welfare of the dogs involved in the greyhound racing sector. The issue of animal welfare was one of the key measures raised during the meeting, and quite rightly so. We were told that Greyhound Racing Ireland, GRI, has put into effect a number of measures to address the issue, but of course we need to ensure that these measures are all fully implemented, followed through, and have the desired result. For these reasons, Sinn Féin wants to ensure that a significant portion of the funding given is ring-fenced towards the welfare of greyhounds and to ensure the end of the practice of over breeding, which leads to culling. If the State is to contribute money to GRI then it is crucial that a good portion of that money is used to ensure that the horrors we saw last year are addressed and wiped out. To ensure this happens and is being maintained involves a persistent approach. It requires time, commitment and a good track record. These revelations are fresh in our minds and we have to accept that genuine concerns remain and that a vigilant approach must be taken. This is why Sinn Féin's amendment to the Bill calls for the Government to work with the sector to improve animal welfare with monitoring and enforcement. We must make full sure that the commitments made are delivered upon. It will require constant monitoring and it is a job of all of us in this House to ensure the Government continues to follow up on this commitment.

I thank the many organisations out there that help unwanted or abused greyhounds. We have some of those organisations in my own county and they provide a service that makes me proud. They are crucial in our humane response to the scandal.

I shall now turn to the funding for the sector. An increase in funding is proposed. Sinn Féin does not believe it is right to spend an additional €2.4 million when households and families are struggling more than ever. There is less money entering families' coffers but demands for rent have not gone away, the Government has seen to that. The health service is about to come under the usual winter pressure, with the added demands of Covid-19. We need to channel all the resources we can into the vital services that people reply on. Sinn Féin is willing to work with the industry to develop a long-term strategy to ensure the sector's viability going forward. The Government needs to step up here also. I and my party want to ensure that the money given to support the sector is spent in the right way, goes to the right people and the right practices.

If this is achieved it will make for a viable sport.

This is important because the greyhound industry is a significant contributor to rural Ireland. An assessment carried out in 2017 found that nearly 12,500 people derived economic benefit from activity within the sector. This figure cannot be dismissed. It is estimated that the greyhound industry benefits rural Ireland most through the €302 million it generates. Like the agricultural sector, this is important to rural Ireland. Money generated in communities generally makes its way around them. It has significant knock-on effects and helps the wider locality. The use of Exchequer funding by Greyhound Racing Ireland, GRI, must be transparent. The funding must reach all involved in the industry, particularly the smaller operators who make greyhound racing what it is in my county. It must be proven that whatever commitments have been made to qualify for club funding are delivered on, or at least that a concerted effort to do so is made.

The greyhound sector plays an important role in the economic and social life of rural Ireland. If someone walks, drives or cycles down any road, he or she will find someone else walking a greyhound, whatever the weather. It is more than a sport. It is a way of life, a pastime and a passion. Most of the people one sees walking dogs on a daily basis do not make obscene amounts. They are preserving their way of life. They are involved in an engaging pursuit, a way of life that has been replicated for generations. Greyhound racing is many people's one and only social outlet. They care and they need support.

The Government has said that the greyhound industry has improved its governance and practices. I welcome this, but in light of the level of abuse revealed in last year's "RTÉ Investigates", constant surveillance is needed to ensure those efforts are doubled and tripled. The Government must continue to work with GRI to improve and progress animal welfare monitoring in the industry. We must also identify and adopt a long-term strategy to ensure the viability of the sector. Sinn Féin's amendments put welfare first and foremost, support the sector and note the contribution it makes to rural Ireland.

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