Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

5. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Bord na gCon National Greyhound Testing Laboratory in County Limerick has accreditation for testing for Stanozolol; if he will provide an up-to-date certificate of accreditation for Bord na gCon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26374/15]

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In response to a parliamentary question in May the Minister outlined that Bord na gCon had never identified any greyhound with a positive Stanozolol test result, implying that we did not have a problem with the drug in Ireland. The truth is very different. The most up-to-date accreditation certificate for the National Greyhound Laboratory available on the Bord na gCon website does not include Stanozolol in the list of substances for which it has received accreditation to test. The document indicates that the laboratory has received accreditation for a list of additional tests. Is Stanozolol is on that list or any other updated list. Has the laboratory in Limerick been accredited to test for Stanozolol in all its forms?

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Bord na gCon is a commercial State body which was established in 1958 under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and improve and develop the greyhound industry.

The sampling of greyhounds for the detection of prohibited substances is a key element of integrity management at Bord na gCon. Anabolic steroids such as Stanozolol are not authorised for use within the greyhound industry; therefore, Stanozolol is a prohibited substance.

I understand from Bord na gCon that the National Greyhound Laboratory, NGL, has accreditation status from the Irish National Accreditation Board which accredits the NGL to undertake sampling in compliance with international standards. The National Greyhound Laboratory has flexible scope accreditation. This means that it is in a position to validate and add any prohibited substance to its scope of accreditation at any time. It is not the practice for a racing laboratory to list all substances for which it has been accredited.

The National Greyhound Laboratory, including through its relationship with other laboratory services, provides the capacity to detect the anabolic steroid Stanozolol in samples obtained at licensed greyhound racing stadia. Bord na gCon is confident that these laboratory services, complemented by the use of intelligence lead sampling, can detect the unauthorised administration of Stanozolol to greyhounds where this has occurred. Bord na gCon has advised that it is awaiting confirmatory analysis of four samples obtained at licensed stadia to test for the prohibited substance Stanozolol.

I understand Bord na gCon has recently conducted a review of its integrity and regulatory systems under the guidance of Professor Tim Morris with particular emphasis on sampling and analysis for the presence of prohibited substances and medication control issues.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. The rest of the reply will appear in the Official Report.

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

This is very important. To finish-----

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I will come back to the Minister of State in a minute. He will have two more chances.

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

That is fine.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

This review is nearing completion and once it is finalised, I expect Bord na gCon to consider its recommendations with a view to identifying any amendments required to legislation, practices or policies to ensure the advancement of the board's commitment to greyhound welfare and to underpin the integrity of the greyhound industry.

The scope of the review encompasses the capacity of the National Greyhound Testing Laboratory in Limerick, the general adequacy of the equipment used and the levels of testing for prohibited substances. The objective is to ensure Bord na gCon will conform with best international practice. I understand from Bord na gCon that in addition to testing samples at the National Greyhound Testing Laboratory in Limerick, it also sends samples for analysis to an appropriate laboratory in the UK as required from time to time. I commissioned the Indecon report in recognition of the need to review and reform aspects of the greyhound sector, including matters relating to integrity services, and I view it as critically important that its recommendations are implemented with a view to ensuring the greyhound industry can reach its full potential and prosper into the future.

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Am I understand that they have the capacity to test for Stanozolol? If they have, can the Minister of State explain to me why Irish dogs that have gone to Britain have tested positive for Stanozolol when they never test positive in Ireland? I do not understand that and neither do many people in the industry.

We all know there have been problems in the greyhound industry for a while. Turnover has halved since 2006 and is down something like 55%. There is a good reason for that. There is a lack of confidence in how the industry operates and there is a great deal left to be desired there. It is down to even simple things. Last month, the Minister of State told me there are more than 27,000 uncollected fines. Of the 140 fines handed out during the current Government's tenure, how many have been paid? There does not seem to be any discipline in how greyhound racing is working. According to the Department's own statistics, 10,000 people are directly or indirectly involved in the industry which has a turnover of approximately €500 million. This is very important for Ireland and it needs addressing.

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I accept the point that this is a hugely important industry. There are 10,000 people involved, including small farmers and small-scale breeders throughout the country. That is why we put the Indecon report in place. Indecon reported back to us with an open, transparent plan to deal with the many outstanding issues over the next number of years, particularly financial issues but also in regulation and drug testing. We put that in place and it is being implemented. The Deputy is 100% correct that there is worry and fear.

On the review that has been completed on sampling, I note for the record that this review is nearing completion and, once it is finalised, I expect Bord na gCon to consider its recommendations with a view to identifying any amendments required to legislation, practices or policies to ensure the advancement of Bord na gCon's commitment to greyhound welfare and to underpin the integrity of the Irish greyhound industry. I note for the interest of Deputy Wallace and the people he represents that we want at all times to have integrity as a high priority. Nothing will stop us on the road to achieving that.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State.

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

That is what we are on and we need the opportunity to do it. There are many people in the industry who-----

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I will come back to the Minister of State in a moment. I call Deputy Wallace please. I am trying to make some progress. We are ten minutes over time.

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is not my fault. The Minister and Deputy "quare fellow" there went on so long.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We will not revisit that, Deputy Wallace.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is my fault again, is it?

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

No, I blame the other Deputy more.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Please, Deputy Wallace.

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Will the results of the review to which the Minister of State referred be made public? On Stanozolol, the winner of the William Hill Derby in the UK, an Irish dog, was disqualified for testing positive for Stanozolol only recently. A breeder in Wexford was on to me last week. He told me that he could only get €900 now for a dog for which he would have got €3,500 ten years ago because there is so little faith in the industry. Another area in which there are problems relates to the Artificial Insemination of Greyhounds Regulations 2005, which we have discussed before. While the regulations have been changed, there are dogs which broke it previously and which are outside its rules. Baldoyle Honey won the Sporting PressIrish Oaks at Shelbourne Park in June and received €25,000 but is actually an illegal dog. Tyrur Sugar Ray is also an illegal dog. These guys break the regulations, but no one is doing anything about it. The big problem is that, unfortunately, too many people do not have faith in how the greyhound board is functioning.

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Since we took over, we have put new people on the board. The term of others is coming to an end and we will be looking at that. At all times, we are putting people with the skills to which Indecon referred on the board. We have appointed an accountant and a vet who is one of the top specialists in the country. I cannot express what an advantage that vet has been to the board. There is an ongoing process of improving the board and the people around it.

I acknowledge that there is worry, but it is a broad statement to say a dog was worth €3,000 last year, but only €800 this week. That happens. It is real life. One could also have a dog that was bought this week for €100 that would be worth €3,000 in six months. That is the commercial life of dog breeding. Prices go up and down. If one has a good dog and he wins, one will make a fortune. If one has a poor dog, one will not make any money. That is real life in the greyhound industry. The truth of the matter is that the sales graphs show prices are increasing. Last week, 100 dogs were sold in Thurles and the graph shows the prices had gone up. It is not fair, therefore, to pick out one case in Wexford. If the Deputy meets people throughout the country, as I do, he will have a general view of what is happening in the broader industry and will not come to the House with individual cases. I ask the Deputy to do that. He should meet the people on the ground in Tipperary and throughout the country who are breeding dogs. They will tell him.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We have to move on.

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Wait now. I have to make a point. There is no doubt the industry was in crisis. The economic downturn affected it. Indecon, however, has addressed many of the issues that are there. Going forward, the industry needs help and support, which is why the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund was increased in the budget. I commend the Government on doing that.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State.

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We want to keep the industry and build on it because it has potential for employment. We need to support it in the House as well as outside because of all the small farmers in Kerry, Tipperary and throughout the country.

Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State and I are talking to different people.