Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael)

I argued the last day that animal welfare in regard to greyhounds is covered by the Greyhound Industry Act 1958, the Long Title of which states: "to provide for the reconstitution of the Irish Coursing Club and its recognition as the controlling authority for the breeding and coursing of greyhounds". The Minister of State quoted the regulations which state:

(1) The kennels of any person applying for a licence to carry out the duties of a public or private trainer shall be inspected beforehand by a Control Steward or Stipendiary Steward, who shall report on the general lay-out, etc., to the Board.

(2) The kennels of a public or private trainer shall be periodically inspected by a Control Steward or Stipendiary Steward, who shall make a report to the Board. If the Board is satisfied that the kennels are not properly kept, the Board may suspend or revoke the licence of the trainer concerned or take such other disciplinary action as it may deem necessary.

(3) Trainers shall ensure that kennels, muzzles, feeding bowls, etc., are kept in a clean and good condition.

If that is not animal welfare, we must be speaking a different language. Those regulations clearly spell out animal welfare issues. If they are not adequate, as the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government tried to claim in this House last week, and in doing so cast a slur on the organisation of and controlling authority in the greyhound industry, the proper and appropriate place to address that is in the 1958 Act under which the regulations and the inspection controls can be revised. That is the appropriate place to do that rather than introduce another red herring, another Bill, more bureaucracy, more costs and more threats to the viability of an indigenous industry. That is what is going on here. It is about time we were up-front and were given the real reasons this is being introduced.

The last day the Minister claimed he was not introducing this as a Trojan horse to carry out inspection of the greyhound industry. From what I have heard today, I contend that is exactly what he is trying to do. The 1958 Act is the appropriate legislation to address the issue of inspections and standards in the greyhound industry because it clearly outlines that the Irish Coursing Club is the controlling authority for the breeding of greyhounds.

As Senator Burke stated, there will be court cases if there are instances of poor standards and solicitors will argue the case about which is the correct legislation under which to take an action. Legislation should be clear, succinct and without ambiguity. We are introducing ambiguity in this Bill. We are introducing anomalies and duplication and we will cloud over a whole area.

As I said the last day, we are taking from the fundamental basis of this Bill which is to regulate puppy farms. We are detracting from the whole debate on them. My colleagues in Fine Gael and I will continue to voraciously defend the rights of the Irish greyhound industry and its good name and reputation which was slurred in this House by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. We will put this amendment to a vote.