Dessie Ellis (Dublin North-West, Sinn Fein)

I urge the Government to ban what I can only describe as a barbaric and invasive procedure used on greyhounds whereby they are subjected to surgical artificial insemination. This highly controversial procedure, which is already banned in the UK, involves making a cut in the abdomen of a greyhound and inserting semen directly into its uterus.

This is not an isolated, occasional surgical procedure. Figures from 2023 show that in the previous ten years, almost 5,000 greyhound litters were born in Ireland following surgical artificial insemination. In the past four years alone, more than 500 surgical artificial inseminations were performed on racing and coursing greyhounds.

The process must be distressing for the female greyhound as it is involves anaesthetising it and making a small incision in the abdomen in order to lift out the uterus. The semen is injected directly into the uterus using a fine needle before the uterus is placed back into the greyhound's body and the wound is stitched. The procedure also involves injecting semen extracted from deceased dogs.

The British Veterinary Association has stated its view that this practice is highly unethical and very painful for bitches because the subsequent pregnancy will put additional pressure on the abdominal wounds. All surgeries come with risks but these animals are being subjected to a process that is not intended to correct a medical issue that can only be resolved by surgery. The animals' lives are being put at risk by a non-vital surgical procedure. It is well known that greyhounds are prone to certain complications such as blood clotting that can be exacerbated by this unnecessary surgical procedure. It is not done for the good of the greyhound or for health reasons. It is about the greed of the greyhound industry and the money won at the local dog track.

In general, a greyhound should have only three to four litters in its lifetime. While there is no limit in theory to how many times a greyhound can undergo surgical artificial insemination, and even if it is only carried out for the limit of three or four litters a greyhound should have for its well-being, it is still three or four litters too many. The procedure causes unnecessary strain and stress for the dog. It is nothing to do with the dog's welfare and everything to do with making money for its owner.

Animal welfare organisations have been vocal in expressing their concerns about the procedure. I welcome the announcement in April 2024 by the Veterinary Council of Ireland that it had updated its code of professional conduct for veterinary practitioners prohibiting veterinarians from carrying out surgical artificial inseminations in dogs due to ethical and welfare considerations. It is a cruel, unnecessary and clearly unethical procedure. A report by the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine recommended a complete ban on surgical artificial insemination, noting it carried risks even when performed in a controlled sterile environment.

The practice must be banned. We see from the consultation process carried out by the Veterinary Council of Ireland that the public is against the procedure. A report by the working group on the control of dogs recommended revising the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 to prohibit surgical artificial insemination in canines. I urge that the Minister look seriously at these recommendations and introduce the necessary amendments to address this barbaric practice.

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