Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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43. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the process that takes place when a racing greyhound tests positive for banned substances; if he is reviewing that process in view of recent test results in the racing industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41227/17]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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Many people were shocked during the summer when the champion greyhound Clonbrien Hero tested positive for benzoylecgonine. It seems the only sanction for the owner is a significant withdrawal of prize money and the fact the dog will not be allowed to race again until it has passed further tests. What is the process when a racing greyhound tests positive for banned substances? How is the process being monitored and enforced? Are we doing enough testing?

Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Bord na gCon is a commercial State body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958, chiefly to control greyhound racing and improve and develop the greyhound industry. While the issue referred to by the Deputy is an operational matter for Bord na gCon, it has informed me that, pursuant to the greyhound industry racing regulations 2007-2017, when a racing greyhound returns an analysis result for a prohibited substance the owner and trainer are notified as soon as is practicable. In addition to publishing adverse analytical findings, Bord na gCon also reports the findings to the independent control committee, pursuant to the greyhound industry regulations 2007-2017, with a request for the committee to investigate and determine the matter as provided for in legislation.

Since 1 October 2015, greyhounds returning an adverse analytical finding for prohibited substances are prohibited from further racing until the greyhound is re-sampled and a subsequent analytical result is determined to be free from any prohibited substances. Bord na gCon has informed me that, as part of its commitment to greater transparency in the area of anti-doping and medication control, it introduced secondary legislation in 2015 to provide for the publication of all adverse analytical findings in greyhound samples and to ensure the publication of the outcome from all cases before the control committee. These publications are published in the regulatory section of the board’s website.

In addition, in 2016 the board introduced secondary legislation to provide for the mandatory maintenance of record keeping in respect of the use of all animal remedies and veterinary treatments for all greyhounds eligible for racing. In addition to this secondary legislation, Bord na gCon officials are now authorised to sample greyhounds out of competition at the premises of owners and trainers, whether greyhounds are in training. Bord na gCon has frequently exercised this new testing regime as part of its integrity management.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

I intend to introduce a new greyhound industry Bill in the autumn which will address the governance of Bord na gCon, strengthen regulatory controls in the Industry, modernise sanctions and improve integrity with a view to building a reputation for exceptional regulation in the sector. The draft general scheme of the Bill has already progressed through the pre-legislative scrutiny phase and a memorandum will go to Government in the coming weeks requesting approval to publish the updated general scheme and to submit it to the OPC for drafting.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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Is it true the Department's special investigations unit was not immediately alerted to the positive tests of Clonbrien Hero, which was reported by the Irish Greyhound Owners and Breeders Federation? It complained that there was not an immediate report. Some 80% of racing greyhounds in the UK are Irish dogs and because there a belief in Britain that there is widespread doping here the UK has begun mandatory testing on imported Irish greyhounds. There is a serious issue.

The Minister of State will remember that in March this year our great broadcaster, Sharon Ní Bheoláin, and her "Prime Time" team aired its famous programme, "Gone to the Dogs", which put the spotlight on doping and poor regulation in the industry. At the time of the Clonbrien Hero announcement, the IGB confirmed that there had been eight other adverse findings in June and one in July. What about the other months? Why are there not quarterly reports? The IGB said it tests between 5,000 and 6,000 dogs a year. Can we have more clarity and transparency?

Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I intend to introduce a new greyhound industry Bill in the autumn which will address the governance of Bord na gCon, strengthen its regulatory controls in the industry, modernise sanctions and improve integrity with a view to building the reputation of the industry. The draft general scheme has already gone through pre-legislative scrutiny. The report from the joint committee has come back and the Bill is currently being drafted. It is to be hoped a memo will be sent to Government for its publication very soon.

Approximately a year ago Bord Na gCon invested in a new state-of-the-art analytical system which allows for the detection of substances, including anabolic steroids, at very low levels in samples taken from greyhounds. Very low levels of drugs are now detectable. To be honest, some of the samples which are now showing positive for drugs would not have so tested until the machine was installed. It is all part of a greater effort to improve and enhance the reputation of the industry by putting in stronger controls and monitoring of all animals.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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I thank the Minister of State. As he knows, we will discuss an animal welfare motion later. Has he given any more thought to the Welfare of Greyhounds (Amendment) Bill which I introduced and integrating it into the Bill he will bring forward to regulate the industry? It included a white list of countries to which we should not export our dogs under any circumstances.

Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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That will not form part of the Bill, but many of the other issues covered by the Deputy's Bill which we discussed during the last session will be incorporated into the new Bill. The report from the joint committee which carried out pre-legislative scrutiny is on the Oireachtas website. Members here were part of that. It deals substantially with integrity and governance, in particular.