Maurice Cummins (Fine Gael)

A tremendous relationship exists between greyhound breeders and their veterinary surgeons and this is recognised by everybody in the business. Amendment No. 10 proposes that greyhounds should be exempt from the time limit of six litters subject to veterinary approval, which we consider to be a very acceptable amendment. This is accepted practice. If breeders are acting with the support of their veterinary surgeons, surely that should be sufficient. There is no element of animal welfare concerned in this regard.

With regard to amendment No. 10, as I stated previously on this matter, the Minister, Deputy Gormley, is obviously not aware of the provisions in his own Bill. He is certainly not aware of the situation with the cycle of bitches that are breeding, which we discussed at length last week. The Minister is not aware of the situation.

On the question of microchipping, a duplication, or possibly a triplication, of requirements is being proposed, because there is already provision for microchipping, ear tags and tattoos. Instead of providing for animal welfare, we will be accused of causing cruelty to animals with all the requirements to be complied with under this Bill. What is proposed is ludicrous and it is proposed by a Minister who is unaware of the rural way of life and certainly unaware about the breeding of dogs in this country, be they greyhounds, hunting dogs or any other dog.

I have been told that Fianna Fáil has a bundle of amendments to put forward but that they will be proposed in the other House. If we are debating this Bill in this House, why are those amendments not being brought forward here? We know that many Members of Fianna Fail are opposed to what is proposed in this Bill, but they are shackled by their colleagues in government in regard to the Bill before us and other obligations they have put themselves under in the new programme for Government. That is the reason proposals such as the reasonable ones we have put forward have not been brought forward by Members on the Government side of the House.

Are we going to let a small number of people dictate how policy towards rural life will operate in this country for many years to come? It is disgraceful that this Bill is being pushed through in this manner. The Minister was not even aware that there was a duplication of requirements in terms of this legislation and the 1958 Act when we raised it with him previously. This is the type of legislation we are being asked to pass in this House. The Minister is not aware of what is in the Bill and we are being asked to push it through. It should not be allowed. I hope that Members on the Government side of the House will use their good sense to throw out this Bill or to amend it in a proper manner because they will not be forgiven if they allow it to go through in its current state. The people of rural Ireland will not tolerate this type of dictatorship. That is what is happening in this Bill. I hope the Fianna Fáil Members will put forward their amendments in this House on Report Stage and have the courage of their convictions in that regard.