Results 5,901-5,920 of 7,670 for speaker:Jackie Cahill

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Racing Bill 2018: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2019)

Jackie Cahill: I wish to declare that I am a director of a private greyhound track. As a result, I have a vested interest in this industry. I welcome the Bill, for which we have been waiting for a long time. The integrity of the industry has to be paramount. That means making sure it stands up to the highest scrutiny. This Bill goes a long way towards addressing many of the difficulties we have been...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Racing Bill 2018: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2019)

Jackie Cahill: I move amendment No. 2: In page 12, between lines 24 and 25, to insert the following: “(a) one or more shall be a representative of authorised private greyhound tracks, (b) one or more shall be a representative of greyhound owners and breeders, (c) one or more shall be a representative of public greyhound trainers, (d) one or more shall be a representative of...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Racing Bill 2018: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2019)

Jackie Cahill: The Indecon report, which is advisory, contains recommendations with respect to the industry. It has not been followed as a bible by the board up to now, therefore, in terms of the composition of the board, it does not have a prescribing authority over this committee. The board composition that members consider to be right should be decided here. To say that the mistakes made in the past...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Racing Bill 2018: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2019)

Jackie Cahill: I am seeking clarification. My understanding was that these four board members were part of the eight. I did not think we were proposing to increase the size of the board to 12 members. The Minister of State said the amendment sought an additional four members.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Racing Bill 2018: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2019)

Jackie Cahill: I am sorry. I misheard the Minister of State.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Racing Bill 2018: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2019)

Jackie Cahill: I move amendment No. 7: In page 25, line 16, after “insemination” to insert “, frozen semen insemination and natural service”.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Racing Bill 2018: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2019)

Jackie Cahill: Not unless the Minister of State has something to say against it.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Racing Bill 2018: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2019)

Jackie Cahill: I seek clarification on a few points. The Minister of State is saying that it is not appropriate to include regulations on natural mating in regulations on artificial insemination. Would it be advisable to insert a separate section to deal with this matter? We are discussing animal welfare and, as anyone familiar with the industry knows, natural mating can have welfare issues. It seems...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Racing Bill 2018: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2019)

Jackie Cahill: But there is no section governing natural mating or the use of frozen semen.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Racing Bill 2018: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2019)

Jackie Cahill: With respect, the Minister of State is introducing regulations on artificial insemination, which only covers a certain percentage of the breeding industry. There is also natural insemination and insemination through the use of frozen semen.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Racing Bill 2018: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2019)

Jackie Cahill: No, but neither is artificial insemination.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Racing Bill 2018: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2019)

Jackie Cahill: Why would the Bill not cover all three types of breeding?

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Racing Bill 2018: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2019)

Jackie Cahill: Stud owners would not tell one that. Natural matings are a thing of the past in the greyhound industry. They do not happen. There is artificial insemination and frozen semen is being used, which is usually done with an insert. We are not providing for regulation in this Bill, which is a mistake. I am not arguing with the regulation of artificial insemination but I do not understand why...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Racing Bill 2018: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2019)

Jackie Cahill: Surely this is the Bill for the industry, going forward. If we are including regulations here on artificial insemination, why not do so for other forms-----

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Racing Bill 2018: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2019)

Jackie Cahill: No. Frozen semen can be used from a live sire too. Natural matings are not happening on the ground. They only happen in a very small percentage of cases. I cannot see why, if we are regulating artificial insemination, we do not regulate other forms as well.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Racing Bill 2018: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2019)

Jackie Cahill: In fairness, things have moved on a lot since 1958.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Racing Bill 2018: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2019)

Jackie Cahill: In 1958 there was only one way to get a bitch in pup. There was no other way. We have moved on a lot since then, in fairness. I am not trying to be awkward here but I cannot understand, when there are other ways of getting a bitch in pup, that this legislation is not dealing with them. This legislation will govern the industry for the next 20 or 30 years. Why is there veterinary...

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Racing Bill 2018: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2019)

Jackie Cahill: I am suggesting that there should be veterinary supervision. A vet is able to go to a stud to check that any artificial insemination taking place is being done correctly, to which I have no objection. That is the way it should be but if there are natural matings occurring, why should the vet not be able to walk in and check that it is being done correctly too?

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Racing Bill 2018: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2019)

Jackie Cahill: Yes, it is a natural process but it has to be done to proper welfare standards.

Select Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Racing Bill 2018: Committee Stage (26 Mar 2019)

Jackie Cahill: The same question applies with regard to frozen semen. That is not covered in the Bill either.