Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael)

Despite what the Minister of State indicated, this section will have serious implications for the greyhound industry. The Minister of State said it will have little or no impact on the industry and that it is purely an animal welfare measure. I have already outlined to the House that the 1958 Act adequately covers the animal welfare element relating to the control and standards which should apply in respect of greyhounds. If that Act is inadequate, it should be amended and we should not be introducing further provisions by means of the legislation before the House.

I remind the Minister of State and the House that the greyhound industry is worth over €560 million per annum to the economy. Almost 11,000 full and part-time workers are employed in this industry. Some 77% of the dogs raced in the UK are Irish bred. If this section, as it stands, is passed, it will mean that champion brood bitches that have already bred six litters will not be allowed to breed again in this country. As a result, those bitches will be exported to another jurisdiction where they will continue to breed. However, they will no longer be considered Irish brood bitches and greyhound racing in this country will be at a loss.

An aspect of this which has not yet been discussed relates to the amount of money raised for charity - sporting clubs, good causes, hospital facilities - at Irish greyhound tracks. Over €7.5 million was raised for charity at Irish greyhound tracks in 2007. The figure now stands at approximately €7 million per annum. That is an indication of the amount of money generated by the industry. The legislation before the House, in favour of which Senators on the Government benches will vote, will have a major impact on that industry. I remind those Senators and the Minister of State that people throughout the country are paying close attention to this debate. They are listening to what is being said and watching how Members are voting.

I have seen correspondence from Government Deputies and Senators assuring people in the greyhound industry that they will support and address their concerns. There is no evidence of that in the House this evening. Government Senators are voting against extremely reasonable Fine Gael amendments that are designed to protect the greyhound industry. It has been brought to my attention that the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Peter Power, in an address to people from the greyhound industry who were attending an awards ceremony, assured all and sundry that the Bill would not affect the industry. Is it the case that the Minister of State knows that amendments are going to be tabled in the Dáil? Such amendments should be introduced in this House, which has debated the legislation at length. The Bill was initiated in the Seanad and this is the appropriate forum in which to debate amendments to it. It would be a slight on the House if Fianna Fáil has prepared amendments to the legislation but does not propose to introduce them until the Bill is taken in the Dáil.

This section will sound the death knell in respect of the breeding of champion greyhounds in this country. We will be opposing it on that basis.