Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

It is an agricultural issue. The Minister spoke about forestry. I agree; it is bizarre but it is a matter for the Minister for agriculture so it is appropriate to talk about it today. Ireland is an outlier because not only do we allow greyhound racing to happen but we give it an awful lot of money - €20 million - every year. If one compares that to what some charities get to provide fundamental services, one will appreciate that €20 million is a huge amount of money. It is time to look at this. I will not call it a sport because it is not a sport, it is an industry. I think that the Minister, Deputy Heydon, would agree with that.

It is time to look at this industry. It is inherently cruel and is built on practices that amount to animal abuse. There is a huge number of fatalities and injuries every year. Even the fact that we define greyhounds as an agricultural animal enables a workaround with animal welfare practices. Consider canine artificial insemination. Vets have been banned from using that on dogs but they cannot ban it for use in greyhounds because greyhounds are considered an agricultural animal. I put it to the Minister, Deputy Heydon, that we need to ban greyhound racing in Ireland. We certainly should not be funding it. We have not seen changes in animal welfare standards in the industry. We are not going to see changes in those standards and the way dogs are treated. It is not by all owners. I absolutely will attest that it is not all owners but the industry itself is inhumane and is built on inhumane practices. I ask the Minister to consider banning it in line with and following on from other countries. There are reasons those countries are banning it and those reasons apply in Ireland. It is not just an international issue. I ask the Minister to look at that. It is time that we stop propping this industry up with taxpayers' money while also turning a blind eye to what happens in it.

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