Seanad debates

Wednesday, 3 March 2010

Dog Breeding Establishments Bill 2009: Committee Stage (Resumed)

 

12:00 pm

Photo of Paudie CoffeyPaudie Coffey (Fine Gael)

I did not hear the view of the Minister on the definition of a bitch, which is fundamental to the question of what is considered a bitch in this Bill. In the draft version of the Bill it is described as four months. I would like to know if the Minister intends addressing the definitions. I am astonished to hear the reply of the Minister. We are now getting to the nub of the issue. We were concerned there would be duplication of regulation and standards with regard to animal welfare. Opposition Members fully support the idea of proper animal welfare standards in this country but the Minister has admitted to the House that the present system, under the auspices of the Irish Greyhound Board and the Irish Coursing Club, is not adequate. In other words, those bodies are not doing their jobs. I remind the Minister that State boards are running the agencies. I remind the Minister they are under the auspices of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism. I would like to hear the Ministers of those Departments respond to the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government saying agencies under the remit of those Departments are inadequate and are not doing their job. The Minister gave due recognition to the Irish greyhound industry, to its importance as an indigenous industry for tourism and how reputable it is internationally. The Irish Greyhound Board — Bord na gCon — and the Irish Coursing Club have major reputations internationally. It is a sad day when the Minister says the job they do is inadequate. It is a serious charge and the Minister should retract it. The current debate takes away from the aspirations of the Bill as drafted, which is to address the maltreatment of puppies in puppy farms. That should be the focus. In this case a catchall Bill is spreading into other areas already legislated for and it is unacceptable that the Minister makes this comment about the Irish greyhound industry. He should retract his comment.

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