Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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32. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 1011 of 17 May 2016, if he or his officials have met any persons or organisations with an interest in greyhound welfare regarding the export trade of greyhounds to the Macau Special Administrative Region, China; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21137/16]

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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Has the Minister or his officials met any persons or organisations with an interest in greyhound welfare to discuss the export of greyhounds to the Macau region of China? I am sure the Minister is aware of concerns surrounding this issue. Three renowned animal welfare organisations, the ISPCA, the Irish Blue Cross and Dogs Trust Ireland, wrote to his predecessor expressing concerns about the export of three greyhounds to Macau.

Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As stated in a reply to a parliamentary question tabled by the Deputy on 17 May last, the position is that once appropriate animal health and welfare certification requirements are met, dogs, including greyhounds, may be exported internationally. Exporters are also required to comply with the provisions of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1 of 2005 on the protection of animals during transport.

I emphasise that while a very small number of greyhounds were exported to Macau earlier this year, it is nevertheless imperative to ensure the transport of greyhounds over long distances is conducted in a manner which safeguards the welfare of animals being transported and minimises the risk of transmitting infectious diseases.

Bord na gCon is responsible for the governance, regulation and development of the greyhound industry in the Republic as well as the well-being of greyhounds. The board has developed a comprehensive code of practice on the welfare of greyhounds which sets out specific standards that all individuals engaged in the care and management of registered greyhounds are expected to meet. The code emphasises that owners and keepers take full responsibility for the physical and social well-being of greyhounds in line with best welfare practice.

On 23 May, departmental officials met representatives of Bord na gCon and the welfare members of the International Greyhound Forum, which was represented by the ISPCA and Dogs Trust in Ireland, to consider the issues surrounding the export of greyhounds. At that meeting, the officials emphasised that the well-being of greyhounds, including their physical and social environment, is at the core of Ireland’s greyhound industry and the need for the industry to comply with the Welfare of Greyhounds Act 2011 and the associated code of practice, which sets out clearly specific standards that all individuals engaged in the care and management of registered greyhounds are expected to meet.

Bord na gCon has reiterated its advice to all owners involved in the export of greyhounds to only export to destinations that provide the expected levels of care and management, as defined in the board's code of practice for the welfare of greyhounds. I fully endorse this view.

The Minister met representatives of the ISPCA on 29 June last. On the specific issue of Macau, the ISPCA recalled the positive engagement of the International Greyhound Forum on this issue. I understand that trade with Macau has ceased and I am confident that greyhound owners heeded the advice being offered by Bord na gCon.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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The Minister of State indicated that the export trade with Macau had ceased. Does this mean the Department will introduce a ban on the export of greyhounds to China because a ban is the only safeguard animal welfare organisations are willing to accept? The export of greyhounds to countries known to have a poor record on animal welfare is ill advised and a major step backgrounds for those seeking a well-regulated greyhound industry.

I have been contacted by a man who has followed the case involving the export of greyhounds to a track in Macau. He states that the track involved is old and narrow and its length is not good for animals. Many accidents happen, which results in dogs being killed and more being needed to replace them. He notes also that dogs cannot be brought in from China as they must be quarantined for rabies, which is impossible because of the lack of space. The individual in question states that approximately 30 dogs per month die in the Macau racetrack. No one in Ireland would support allowing the export of greyhounds to this race track. People want reassurance on this matter.

Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Exports to Macau have ceased because none of the airlines will agree to carry greyhounds. If the Department tried to ban greyhound exports to Macau, the animals would be transported to the region indirectly through another jurisdiction if the people involved wished to continue to export them. I appreciate everything the Deputy said on animal welfare. International pressure was brought to bear by people involved in the welfare of greyhounds and the airlines responded to it. Everyone should accept that if no mode of transport is available, no greyhounds will be exported.

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Anti-Austerity Alliance)
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It is good that airlines acted in this matter. From what I have read, the airlines involved were based at Heathrow Airport and their decision was not connected to the Department. Concerns were raised about the mode of transport used to export greyhounds.

Deputies received an e-mail which indicated that people involved in animal welfare believed the Department was about to agree to amend the Welfare of Greyhounds Act and introduce changes to the greyhound industry to prevent the export of greyhounds to countries that do not have good welfare standards.

3 o’clock

This was something people were hoping to hear an announcement on. I do not think the Minister of State is in a position to make that announcement and that is rather disappointing.

Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Draft heads of a Bill are being prepared for pre-legislative scrutiny. I was chairman of the agriculture committee in the last Dáil. At the time, we were hoping to have the Bill ready for the pre-legislative scrutiny process. Essentially the new greyhound Bill is based on the Welfare of Greyhounds Act. We are trying to get it into the committee for the autumn session in order that it can be enacted as soon as possible. However, I cannot foretell the conclusion at this stage.